By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville Millers got off to a slow start on Tuesday night, but the Lawrence North Wildcats did not.
Up early 9-0 inside The Mill, the defending Class 4A state champion Wildcats strung together a 17-2 run midway through the first half to win wire-to-wire, 66-41, and halt the Millers’ two-game winning streak.
Lawrence North (6-5) had four players finish in double figures and shot 60 percent from the field to post the program’s fifth victory in six games after an apathetic 1-4 start to the season.
“Honestly, we just didn’t show any fight tonight. We did not show any fight at all,” Noblesville coach Donna Buckley said. “At the end of the day, if you don’t guard people, it’s easy to stand out there and knock down shots. We just did not play on either end with any fight or confidence.”
The 4A Millers (6-4) were coming off two strong home performances with a 61-51 win over 3A Crispus Attucks and a 54-39 triumph against Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival 4A Fishers, but their momentum faded once the Wildcats caught fire.
An 8-3 run cut Lawrence North’s advantage to four points, 12-8, late in the first quarter, but the Wildcats responded with steady ball movement, rebounding and defensive pressure.
Lawrence North hauled in 29 rebounds overall – 15 in the first half –and knocked down 8 of 18 3-pointers, while Noblesville shot 32 percent from the floor for the game and committed 8 of 14 turnovers in the first half.
“I could make every excuse in the book, but we just didn’t come to play,” Buckley said. “There are absolutely no ifs, ands or buts from the beginning to the end. We did not come to play as a team.”
Senior C.C. Quigley scored a game-high 17 points with four rebounds for the Millers followed by 13 points from senior Ally Hutchinson.
Sophomore Aleah Magee added nine points, while sophomore Maia Blower dished out a team-best five assists, but the Wildcats collectively executed once they won the opening tip-off.
“All the growth and the maturity that they’ve gained through our tough schedule at the beginning of the year, it resulted in losses, but this group is just growing thick skin and growing very quickly in their experience,” LN coach Stephen Thomas said. “It’s great to be able to celebrate this win with them against a very quality program like Noblesville.”
A long-range jumper by senior Devyn Johnson in the final seconds pulled Noblesville within 14 points, 36-44, by halftime, but an 18-7 run to open the third quarter increased Lawrence North’s margin to 25 points.
Senior Kalea Bentley, who averages 7.1 points per game, had a team-high 12 points for the Wildcats. Fellow state-championship, carry-over player Brooklyn Roberts, a junior, posted 11 points with four rebounds and seven assists.
Freshman Heavynne Beard chipped in 10 points and six rebounds with five steals, and freshman Jordyn Suggs, who averaged 8.8 ppg, had 10 points. Sophomore Jaida Wheat finished with eight points.
Lawrence North tallied 19 assists compared to Noblesville’s nine.
“We just didn’t bring the energy we needed tonight. We didn’t start out well, and we dug ourselves into a hole and just had to keep fighting back,” Quigley said. “We just didn’t come ready to play today.”
The Wildcats had extra motivation after losing to eventual Marion County champion 4A No. 6 Pike, 63-43, during the annual tournament’s quarterfinal round last week.
Averaging 48.1 points per contest, the Wildcats reached the mark in the third quarter and never dipped below 12 points in a single quarter against Noblesville.
“To be able to respond in the way that we did today, as a head coach and as a staff, we’re very pleased,” Thomas said. “You’re going to take everybody’s best shot, and this group has learned that and continues to chop wood as we coin. Proud of them for their efforts tonight.”
The Millers (2-2 HCC) have a chance to bounce back Saturday on the road during their meeting with 4A Westfield (10-3) at 5:30 p.m. The Shamrocks defeated HCC foe Avon in overtime Tuesday to improve to 4-0 in the conference, which ties with 4A No. 8 HSE.
