Posted By: Richie Hall January 27, 2026
By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
A hot start put the Class 4A Hamilton Southeastern Royals in position to challenge state-ranked 4A Mt. Vernon and Purdue recruit Luke Ertel on Saturday, Jan. 24, but the host Marauders pulled away to win 69-50.
HSE (7-8) trailed Mt. Vernon 17-14 after the first quarter. However, the Marauders (14-2) poured in 42 points over the next two frames compared to the Royals’ 20 to win their seventh straight game.
Mt. Vernon tallied 36 total points off 12 made 3-pointers to surge ahead while outrebounding HSE 31-21.
Ertel, an Indiana Mr. Basketball candidate, had a game-high 22 points with 16 rebounds and 10 assists. The senior shot 7 of 17 from the field overall, 5-for-5 from the free throw line and 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. Ertel is averaging 25.1 points per game.
HSE was led by Varschon Clark with nine points and three rebounds. Kallen Hoeft had seven points. Both Maskim Radovich and Landon Osswald added six points apiece. Jack Jacobs finished with five points.
The Royals have lost two straight after winning four in a row. They will look to bounce back at Muncie Central on Tuesday before heading to Noblesville on Friday.
