State champions!
Team celebrates state championship (Photo Jack Peck)
By Cal Boots and Beau Scott
For the boy’s basketball team, this past season was a year focused on one thing—a state championship. With quick, intelligent point guards in Ronnie Johnson and Micah Smith, elite off-guards in D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Trip McFall, as well as a Mr. Basketball candidate in Terone Johnson, the Panthers were hungry for a title.
McFall commented on the team’s lone goal.
“Since the beginning of the season we knew we could win state, and any other result would have been falling short of our potential,” McFall said.
The team started the year with wins against Pike and Lawrence Central, but then lost to both Carmel and East Chicago Central within the nex five games.
The Panthers, however, responded with an eleven game winning streak, earning them a Marion County Championship as well as a MIC title.
A loss to Center Grove was the only blemish in their last 20 games, leaving them with an overall record of 25-3.
Before attaining their goal of a state championship, the Panthers had another obstacle in their path—winning Sectional 10.
Talented programs such as Lawrence North, Lawrence Central, Warren Central, and Cathedral all are a part of Sectional 10, making it arguably the most difficult in the state. It was the difficulty of this sectional that tripped up last year’s squad, losing in the sectional championship to a talented Lawrence North team.
This year however, the team was determined to crack the sectional barrier and advance to Hinkle Fieldhouse for regional play. McFall commented on the teams focus throughout sectional play.
“We have the best coacing staff in the state and they kept us on task and focused every day,” McFall said.
The Panthers received a bye in the first round of sectional play and beat Warren Central by 21 points to set up a rematch with Lawrence North in the final.
After a rocky start and lack of offense, the Panther defense kicked in and held the Wildcats to just 11 points in the last three quarters of play, giving the Panthers the sectional crown.
Regional play featured the historic double header played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
After beating Ben Davis in the morning game, the Panthers were slotted to play the Millers of Noblesville in the nightcap.
The game was hard fought with the score close throughout regulation.
A late streak of points by Johnson forced the game into overtime.
Late free throws by McFall and sophomore Patrick Ingram allowed the Panthers to notch the one point victory.
“I think the defining moment of our season was beating Noblesville in overtime,” Johnson said.
Coach Doug Mitchell commented on the task of playing Noblesville.
“The Noblesville game was the most difficult of the tournament because it was such a long day at Hinkle, and they were such a good team,” Mitchell said.
Next the team made the trek down to Southport to play Jeffersonville, who were hot off just beating the best team in the state, Bloomington South.
The Panthers survived a late surge by Jeffersonville and finished them off with a score of 82-74.
The Panthers season culminated at a packed Conseco Fieldhouse against Warsaw for the State Championship.
Warsaw came out of the gates fast but NC quickly caught up and passed them and the game was over by the end of the second quarter.
The final score was 95-74, setting a state record for points in the state championship.
“We have honestly not played anything like that. They are no joke,” Warsaw coach Doug Ogle said.
After the team was awarded their medals at Conseco and the coaches cut down the nets, many players and their families and fans met back at the North Central gymnasium to celebrate.
Everybody celebrated their first championship since the 1998-1999 season.
“I celebrated by spending time with my friends and family. It was great because my best friend from Portland came and surprised me, I smiled a lot the next few days,” Mitchell said.
Many attribute the success of the team to the outstanding senior leadership by McFall, Johnson, Aaron Bluitt and Jack Altice, and also to the team’s unity.
“Our senior leadership was a great bonus, we had great leaders. The thing is that they all led in different ways. Terone led verbally, Trip by example, Jack by example and by making his few minutes important and Aaron by sacrificing his role,” Mitchell said.
“We all became a family,” Altice said.
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