Noblesville ousts North Central, advances to sectional championship

Friday night's semifinal didn't have near the same build-up that the December 6th meeting at North Central did. The Panthers were playing with just three guards rotating off of their bench, which would just spell trouble from the opening tip...and it did.

The Millers were able to get back to doing what they do best, but it wasn't pretty at time. Sharing the wealth and not caring who distributes or scores, that's what makes this Noblesville Miller team run like a well-oiled machine.

The jitters were still out on the floor in the first few minutes of the game, for both teams really. Noblesville hadn't played since Tuesday night's win over Carmel and North Central drew the bye game, so they haven't played since last Friday's road win at Lawrence Central to close out their regular season.

4A #5 Noblesville 68, North Central 39 - (Fri. Feb. 13 at Hamilton Southeastern)
Panthers     6     7     8     18     -     39
Millers        9    19   18    22     -     68

Point production from the start of the game didn't come from where it normally does for Noblesville and that kind of threw off North Central's defense a little bit. The Panthers were thinking that the bulk of the Miller scoring would come from Alexis Shannon, Katelyn O'Reilly and Becca Bergman (at right).

Yes, that trio who are Noblesville's top 3 scorers did combine for one-third (23) of their points. That's not what was the focal point offensively in a game like this.

Bench points were an astounding 36-9 advantage for the Millers and that's what drove Noblesville throughout the game.

How deep your bench can go, is a great measure of how deep your team can go in the state tournament.

The Millers had a 9-6 lead after the first quarter, but it was obvious that it wouldn't take long for Noblesville to pull themselves away from North Central.

A pair of Bergman 3's and another from Brooke Herron and the Millers had busted this game open, outscoring the Panthers 19-7 in the second to lead at half 28-13.

The third was all about widening the lead enough at the end of the quarter to rest all of the starters for the 4th. That plan worked as Noblesville was up by more than North Central had scored at that point, 46-21.

Erin Wood (left) found her touch on the offensive end in the 3rd, dropping in three of her four field goals, while also grabbing four boards in the frame. Brooke Herron added to her point total with six more in the third. Katelyn O'Reilly scored four of her eight as well.

Head coach Donna Keck kept her bench on the floor for the remainder of the game. A couple shifted in and out to get every player a chance to play.

Audrey DeFoe (below) found her way to 8 points on three field goals and 2-for-2 at the foul line, earning herself Hamilton County TV's Co-Player of the Game with fellow senior Kayleigh Herron. Herron (right) displayed her physicality at the start of each half by grabbing four rebounds and dishing out 5 assists on the night.

North Central kept their starters on the floor for most of the 4th, until Dee Ann Ramey gave way to subbing in her bench players in the final minutes.

Even with the Millers' bench on the floor for the entire 4th, the Panthers were still outscored by Noblesville 22-18, en route to a 68-39 sectional semifinal victory and a berth in the sectional championship.

North Central (9-13) was led in scoring by Kyra Taylor, who was the lone Panther in double-digits with 11. Alexis Johnson and Ajanae' Thomas each added 6. Ajah Stallings had 5, Taylor Ramey 4, Auboni Hart 3 and Andrea Robertson 2.

Noblesville (21-3) had Becca Bergman and Brooke Herron (below right) tying for team-high honors at 10 points apiece. Erin Wood had a solid night with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocked shots. Katelyn O'Reilly pitched in nicely with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Audrey DeFoe was clutch off the bench in the 4th with 8 points. Emily Kiser was also solid with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks for the game.

Alexis Shannon (5), Cori Cain (3), Rachel Shipman (3), Haley Conway (3) and Sam Salmon accounted for the rest of the Millers' scoring.

Saturday night's 4A Sectional 8 Hamilton Southeastern championship game will feature the Noblesville Millers (21-3) vs. the Fishers Tigers (20-5).

Fishers edged Hamilton Southeastern 36-35 on a controversial no-call to end the second semifinal on Friday night.

The Millers got a come from behind, 45-33 road win at Fishers in the regular season HCC meeting between the two on December 12.

Noblesville is seeking its first sectional championship in the class-era and first since 1996. This is also the Millers' first sectional championship appearance in the Donna Keck era. Fishers is looking to repeat after winning the 2014 sectional championship at North Central.

Coverage for tomorrow night's sectional championship tilt will start with the pregame show Hamilton County TV (hctv1.com) at 7:15 with Perry Williams and myself (Craig Adkins) on the call, tip-off at 7:30!

GO MILLERS!

(*all photos courtesy of Kent Graham at kentgraham.photoshelter.com)