Sneakers For Santa Live Blog

<p>We are just two weeks into the Indiana High School Basketball season and we already are treated to one of the best events of the entire year. The Ryan Owens Allstate Sneakers For Santa Shootout has become an annual early-season event featuring some of the best teams and players in the state. Today will be no different. Seven excellent matchups, nine Division I commitments plus several more DI prospects, two defending state champions, an Ohio Mr. Basketball award winner, eight teams ranked in the Prep Hoops Indiana Top 10 of their respective classes, two 5-star recruits, three 4-star prospects, and much more!</p>   <p>This live blog powered by your Prep Hoops Indiana staff will serve as your one-stop-shop throughout the long day of basketball. We will hop in after each matchup to give a recap and highlight some top performers through the Sneakers For Santa Shootout as well. Enjoy an OUTSTANDING day of Indiana High School Basketball!!!</p>   <h2>North Central 79 vs. Bloomfield 52</h2>   <p>The North Central Panthers moved to 3-1 on the season with a 79-52 victory over the Bloomfield Cardinals. After a close first quarter and a 12-point halftime advantage, the Panthers blew the game open in the third period. Led by nine points in the third by [player_tooltip player_id='1297108' first='Rogelio' last='Rivera'], the Panthers expanded their lead to 68-36. In the fourth quarter North Central put the game on cruise control but never could quite enact the running clock. It was Bloomfield's first loss of the season as they now sit at 3-1.</p>   <p>Rivera led all scorers with 21 points off the bench for North Central. The sophomore is a microwave scorer who can get hot in a hurry. He showed off his high skill level scoring it from all three levels throughout the morning game. 6'6" guard [player_tooltip player_id='868259' first='Joey' last='Brown'] added 15 points and 4 assists for the Panthers. Junior point guard rounded out the double-figure scoring with 10.</p>   <p>For Bloomfield, it was freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1560962' first='Blake' last='Neill'] who scored 19 points including five three-pointers. Incredibly impressive performance for the freshman against a long, athletic 4A school in North Central. The Cardinals have a good one in Neill. 6'7" forward [player_tooltip player_id='1557223' first='Peter' last='Combs'] finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds. The left-hander impressed with his footwork and motor around the basket. In-state Division III programs should be recruiting him if they are not already.</p>   <h2>Beech Grove 55 vs. NorthWood 51</h2>   <p>The defending Class 3A state champions took down the current #1 ranked team in Class 3A in the second game of the day from the Sneakers For Santa Shootout. The game was close from start to finish, but Beech Grove did not lead very often until near the end of the fourth quarter. Down the stretch [player_tooltip player_id='1556397' first='Jeremiah' last='Tate'], Cam Brown, and [player_tooltip player_id='1621341' first='Jaleel' last='Edwards'] each hit big free throws in one-and-one situations to put the game on ice. The Hornets came away with a 55-51 victory to move to 3-1 on the season while the Panthers now fall to 3-1.</p>   <p>6'6" senior forward Cam Brown led Beech Grove with 14 points and 9 rebounds in the victory. He showed off his offensively versatility knocking in a pair of three-pointers, finishing around the rim, and making two big free throws late in the game. Brown was excellent on the glass as well at both ends of the floor. Under-the-radar prospect that could be on some small college radars. [player_tooltip player_id='1621341' first='Jaleel' last='Edwards'] added 11 points for the Hornets while both [player_tooltip player_id='1530699' first='Jeremiah' last='Alexander'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1556397' first='Jeremiah' last='Tate'] each finished with 10 points.</p>   <p>For NorthWood, Grace College commit [player_tooltip player_id='1391324' first='Ian' last='Raasch'] led all scorers with 18 points in the loss. Huntington University bound [player_tooltip player_id='1226596' first='Cade' last='Brenner'] added 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.</p>   <h2>Zionsville 62 vs. Gary 21st Century 59</h2>   <p>This one got very, very interesting down the stretch. Zionsville lead 44-37 going into the fourth quarter, but Gary 21st Century wasn't going to go down without a fight. Star point guard [player_tooltip player_id='868220' first='Ashton' last='Williamson'] scored 11 points in the final period while [player_tooltip player_id='1160677' first='Quintin' last='Floyd'] added 10 of his own to keep the Cougars knocking on the door. After forcing a late turnover, freshman Terrance Hayes Jr. knocked down a corner three that cut the Cougars deficit to one, 60-59, with just 27.2 seconds left to play. However, that is as close as the comeback attempt would get. Zionsville eventually escaped with a 62-59 victory to move to 2-2 on the season. The loss was Gary 21st Century's first as they now sit at 3-1.</p>   <p>Leading the way for the Eagles was their duo of Division I signees. Charlotte bound Nick Richard contributed a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds as he took advantage of a massive size difference around the basket. Future Penn State Nittany Lion [player_tooltip player_id='868255' first='Logan' last='Imes'] also contributed 20 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.</p>   <p>In the loss for Gary 21st Century, dynamic playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='868220' first='Ashton' last='Williamson'] led the way with 20 points and 6 assists. Fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1160677' first='Quintin' last='Floyd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1042493' first='D.J.' last='Moss'] added 15 and 14 points respectively. The athleticism and depth of talent that the Cougars feature will make them very difficult to beat at the Class 2A level.</p>   <h2>Linton-Stockton 64 Heritage Christian 52</h2>   <p>Linton-Stockton built an early lead and never looked back. They led by double-figures the vast majority of the game on their way to move to 3-0 with a 64-52 win over Heritage Christian. Nine three-pointers between [player_tooltip player_id='868240' first='Joey' last='Hart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='935736' first='Logan' last='Webb'] helped pace the offense while Nathan Frady, [player_tooltip player_id='1158180' first='Braden' last='Walters'], and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1560992' first='Paul' last='Oliver'] were all excellent defensively and on the glass. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 1-2 on the season.</p>   <p>6'3" senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='935736' first='Logan' last='Webb'] scored 23 points while connecting on five three-pointers to lead the Miners with 23 points. Central Florida signee [player_tooltip player_id='868240' first='Joey' last='Hart'] added another four three-pointers on his way to 21 points. On the interior, 6'4" senior forward Nathan Frady was highly productive recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.</p>   <p>In the loss for Heritage Christian, future Purdue Boilermaker [player_tooltip player_id='868229' first='Myles' last='J. Colvin'] scored 23 points to lead the Eagles. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1042495' first='Dylan' last='Doss'] finished with 10 points.</p>   <h2>Brownsburg 73 vs. Heritage Hills 50</h2>   <p>This one was never in doubt. [player_tooltip player_id='1275779' first='Kanon' last='Catchings'] came out as aggressive as he has ever been scoring 14 points in the first quarter to help build a 24-7 Brownsburg advantage. From that point on the Bulldogs simply cruised to a 70-45 victory to move to 4-0 on the season. Coach Steve Lynch's group has himself a Top 5 team in the state this season. As for Heritage Hills, they simply didn't have the firepower in this one outside of 4-star Class of 2025 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley']. The Patriots are now 2-1.</p>   <p>Purdue commit [player_tooltip player_id='1275779' first='Kanon' last='Catchings'] finished with 23 points to pace the Bulldogs in the victory. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1391626' first='Elhadj' last='Diallo'] added 18 points for Brownsburg.</p>   <p>In the loss for Heritage Hills, sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley'] scored 30 points to lead all scorers to go along with 9 rebounds.</p>   <h2>Ben Davis 58 vs. Kokomo 51</h2>   <p>Ben Davis just continues to stack up impressive wins to start they season. Just two weeks in they are now 5-0 with wins over Fishers, Zionsville, Southport, Pike, and Kokomo. That is one heck of a resume. In this one they had to battle against one of the best players in the country in 6'10" 5-star center [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'], but [player_tooltip player_id='1042497' first='Zane' last='Doughty'] did enough to hold his own around the basket against the star big man. Eventually, Bidunga fouled out with 2:22 to play and the Giants were able to come away with a 58-51 victory.</p>   <p>Valparaiso signee [player_tooltip player_id='1042497' first='Zane' last='Doughty'] led Ben Davis with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks while junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'] finished with 10 points in a balanced scoring affair for the Giants.</p>   <p>Kokomo was led by [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 blocks. The big man finished several lob dunks and was a complete dominant force on the defensive end and rebounding the basketball. His presence is felt at all times while on the floor. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1557080' first='Patrick' last='Hardimon'] played well for the Wildkats as well finishing with 11 points.</p>   <h2>Cathedral 64 vs. Centerville (OH) 58</h2>   <p>Indiana's best team went up against one of the best from Ohio to finish off seven excellent games at the Sneakers For Santa Shootout. In 49 states it's just basketball...but this INDIANA!!! The Fighting Irish came out on top of a hard fought game that was close to the final seconds with a 64-58 victory to move to 4-0. After two quick buckets to start the fourth quarter, Cathedral led 50-39 but the Elks never caved in cutting their deficit to as few as three points at 56-53 with just over three minutes to play.</p>   <p>Future Purdue Boilermaker [player_tooltip player_id='868252' first='Jaron' last='Tibbs'] scored a game-high 33 points to lift Cathedral to the win. However, Tibbs is actually not signed to play basketball for Coach Matt Painter. Instead, he will be a wide receiver on the gridiron for the Boilermakers. Could we see him end up playing both at some point? Only time will tell. He sure looked like he could be on a Big Ten basketball court in this one though. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='868227' first='Kamari' last='Slaughter'] added 12 points for the Irish.</p>   <p>In the loss for Centerville, future Indiana Hoosier [player_tooltip player_id='867934' first='Gabe' last='Cupps'] scored 25 points and 4-star Class of 2024 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1222348' first='Jonathan' last='Powell'] added 18 points for the Elks.</p>

We are just two weeks into the Indiana High School Basketball season and we already are treated to one of the best events of the entire year. The Ryan Owens Allstate Sneakers For Santa Shootout has become an annual early-season event featuring some of the best teams and players in the state. Today will be no different. Seven excellent matchups, nine Division I commitments plus several more DI prospects, two defending state champions, an Ohio Mr. Basketball award winner, eight teams ranked in the Prep Hoops Indiana Top 10 of their respective classes, two 5-star recruits, three 4-star prospects, and much more!