Game-By-Game: Forum Tip-Off Classic
The Southport Fieldhouse is starting to fill up and we are now underway with Castle and Southport tipping off. We will be keeping a running blog with updates at halftime and postgame for each game today. Follow along as we continue with updates from the Forum Tip-Off Classic:
Pickerington North 75 – South Bend Riley 81 – Final/OT
Halftime Update: When this game was looked at before it started, Riley’s depth of wings was the issue we though could become a problem for Pickerington North. As so it has. Riley is knocking down jumpers and looking much more active and to the ball than North. However, North should be in this game a lot more if they could hit some free throws. They were 4/11 from the line in the first half. Really good start for Shamar Dillard who is hitting a ton of jumpers. If he is going to have that kind of offense, it will be difficult for North to stay in this.
Final Update: Pickerington North came flying back in the second half, creating more turnovers and Riley really struggled to make anything. They weren’t hitting jumpers like they were early on and also leaving a lot of points at the rim. North took advantage and took a 6-point lead late into the game. Damezi Anderson hit a pair of threes in the last couple of possessions and some big free throws by Marlon Taylor tied the game and sent it into overtime. In OT, Riley was able to hit some key free throws again and pull out the win.
Top Performers:
Pickerington North: Jerome Hunter – 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
South Bend Riley: Damezi Anderson – 23 points, 8 rebounds
McCutcheon 58 – Indianapolis Tindley 63 – Final
Halftime Update: This was about as big of a showout game as we thought it might be. Of McCutcheon’s 24 points, Robert Phinisee has 22 of them. Eric Hunter only has 6 points but Tindley getting a lot of help. It has been a pretty open defense so we are seeing a lot of plays happening but McCutcheon’s players are struggling to finish. Need to clean it up if they are going to have a shot.
Final Update: The second half of the game was a much better performance for McCutcheon but they ran into some trouble when Robert Phinisee fouled out with just under 4 minutes to go. However, they were able to put something together and got within one possession before Tindley won the game. The second half has to be something that McCutcheon uses as a plan of attack moving forward.
Top Performers:
Indianapolis Tindley: Eric Hunter Jr. – 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
McCutcheon – Robert Phinisee – 24 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals
Center Grove 21 – Hamilton Southeastern 25 – Final/OT
Halftime Update: After a slow start for Center Grove, you saw their three-point shooting final pick up with Piercefield and Greller hitting three in the final few minutes. We also saw Aaron Etherington have a big half scoring the ball. Really competitive half but Center Grove missed a lot of opportunities with Jackson-Davis leaving a few points at the rim and missing some threes. HSE played well from start to finish and now take a slight lead in.
Final Update: Center Grove was able to battle and Jackson-Davis continued to dominate this game. Noah Smith stepped up in the second half giving Hamilton Southeastern some scoring as Etherington came back down to earth a bit. A big Piercefield three took the lead but Noah Smith went 1/2 from the line to tie it up. Center Grove had the ball with 11.9 to go and HSE got a steal. They went down and a Chris Grubbs jumper rimmed in and out. In OT, it was back and forth until the end but a missed opportunity with 2.3 seconds gives HSE the win.
Top Performers:
Center Grove: Trayce Jackson-Davis – 33 points, 10 reb, 6 blocks
Hamilton Southeastern: Aaron Etherington – 23 points, 6 reb
Culver Academies 40 – Lawrence North 42 – Final
Halftime Update: Like we thought heading into the game, the Lawrence North press is going to be tough for Culver. However, fouls are a bit more troubling and for both teams. Jared Hankins picked up three in the first half and will sit a while. Culver has three starters with two fouls. Culver has to call this a success right now with how they have played. Trey Galloway is playing big, though and just missed a huge one-handed alley-top. Foul trouble is the key in the second half if LN can force their will on Culver.
Final Update: The end of this game was fun. With just over two minutes to go, Trey Galloway hit a three and was fouled. He missed the free throw but gave Culver the lead and fouled Jared Hankins out of the game. However, a big steal and free throws in the final minute from Lawrence North gave them a lead and a Hail Mary from Ethan Brittain-Watts was just short. Lawrence North escapes. Culver played well despite the issues with turnovers and pressure. Lawrence North didn’t play well but they will take the outcome.
Top Performers:
Lawrence North: Kevin Easley – 13 points, 7 rebounds
Culver Academies: Trey Galloway – 21 points, 3 rebounds
Castle 62 – Southport 71 – Final
Halftime Update: Castle got up early here by hitting some big jumpers while not getting much from Alex Hemenway. However, we saw Southport bounce back in front by doing the same thing. Brevin Jefferson, a sophomore guard for Southport, got hot early and hit some big threes. Southport’s guards seem to be controlling things right now but Castle is right there and in the game. Chaz Hinds with a big tip-in at the buzzer puts Southport back on top here at the break.
Final Update: Coming quick out of the break, we saw Southport begin to pull away. They got the lead up to double-digits on the backs of Brevin Jefferson and Chaz Hinds. Jefferson continued his onslaught and Hinds was able to find more scoring in the post. Castle missed too many jump shots in this game and wasn’t able to get to the rim enough to counter that. Southport’s guards continued their press and create opportunities with their points off of turnovers. In the end, Southport just got out too far and Castle wasn’t ever able to keep up with them.
Top Performers:
Southport: Brevin Jefferson – 21 points, 4 reb, 4 ast
Castle: Jace Stieler – 22 points, 7 reb