2023 FORUM Tipoff Classic – Prep Hoops Indiana Live Blog

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are now nearly three weeks into the Indiana High School Basketball season and one of the best single day events of the year is here. The annual FORUM Tipoff Classic at the historic Southport Fieldhouse is back for another year featuring 12 excellent teams, six competitive games, and five nationally ranked prospects. As always, Prep Hoops Indiana will have boots on the ground coverage throughout this great event. Let's dive in and take a closer look at this day full of Indiana High School Basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game 1 - Greenfield-Central 71 Southport 56</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southport got out to a hot start from three-point range against the Greenfield-Central zone, but the Cougars have responded with 4-5 shooting of their own including three triples from [player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins']. He banked in a shot at the buzzer from beyond half court to give Greenfield a 35-27 halftime lead. Mullins already is up to 22 points on the game. [player_tooltip player_id='1306153' first='Michael' last='Johnson'] leads Southport with 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins'] finished with 31 points to lead all scorers as Greenfield-Central moved to 5-0 with a 71-56 win over Southport. [player_tooltip player_id='1547496' first='Braden' last='Robertson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2485696' first='Dallas' last='Freeman'] added 13 and 12 points respectively. In the loss for Southport, [player_tooltip player_id='1306153' first='Michael' last='Johnson'] led the way with 12 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2252551' first='James' last='Kalala'] added 9 points and 11 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game 2 - Warren Central 60 vs. Center Grove 44</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren Central has put on a defensive clinic in the first half here in the second game of the FORUM Tipoff Classic. Their guards apply excellent on-ball pressure and they have the interior size to match Center Grove. They've made it hard for the Trojans to run offense. Warriors lead 29-12 at the half. [player_tooltip player_id='1297060' first='Jevon' last='Guess'] leads Warren Central with 8 points and 3 rebounds. Both Zeke Kirby and [player_tooltip player_id='2089932' first='Robert' last='Walker'] each have 6 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1547488' first='Will' last='Spellman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] have 6 points to lead Center Grove. Trojans shooting just 23.5% from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans made a couple runs at it, but they ultimately could never get over the hump. Warren Central's defense was just too much to handle as they held Center Grove to 34.9% shooting for the game. Zeke Kirby led the way with 18 points while [player_tooltip player_id='1297060' first='Jevon' last='Guess'] added 12 points and 5 rebounds for the Warriors. For Center Grove, [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] finished with 21 points to lead all scorers. [player_tooltip player_id='1547488' first='Will' last='Spellman'] added 11 points for the Trojans. Warren Central forced 20 turnovers in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game 3 - #2 (3A) Guerin Catholic 52 vs. #7 (3A) Heritage Hills 42</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a quick start to this one play slowed down in the second period. Neither team has shot the ball particularly well and there have been a combined 13 turnovers so far. [player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen'] leads the Golden Eagles with 8 points while freshman Hayden Rodgers and Andy Caron each have 4 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley'] has 9 points and 6 rebounds for Heritage Hills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between the late third and early fourth quarters these two teams traded baskets and the lead back and forth, but ultimately Guerin Catholic prevailed for a 52-42 victory. [player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen'] led the way 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals for the Golden Eagles. [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley'] finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals for the Patriots. [player_tooltip player_id='1297006' first='Colten' last='Hopf'] added 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game 4 - #6 (4A) Noblesville #9 51 (4A) Crispus Attucks 46</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Millers have controlled the first half of this fourth game at the FORUM Tipoff Classic. They've been very solid on the defensive end, got a couple fouls on Attucks big man [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'], and have found success driving to the basket with him out of the game. Noblesville takes a 28-20 lead into the halftime locker room. [player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston'] has 8 points and 6 rebounds for the Miller while [player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'] has added 7 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1275781' first='Demetrius' last='Jenkins'] leads Crispus Attucks with 7 halftime points. [player_tooltip player_id='1275771' first='Ron' last='Rutland III'] has 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noblesville held on for a 51-46 victory over Crispus Attucks to move to 4-1 on the season. The Millers were led in scoring by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston'] with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Demetrius Jackson had 11 points in the loss for Attucks. [player_tooltip player_id='1275771' first='Ron' last='Rutland III'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'] each finished with 10 points. Briscoe also added 10 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game 5- #1 (4A) Lawrence North 72 vs. #8 (4A) Fort Wayne Wayne 51</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 4A #1 Lawrence North overcame a two-point halftime deficit to defeat the Generals 72-51. Three-star, Top 150 Class of 2025 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] led all scorers with 24 points to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals for Lawrence North. [player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles'] added 16 points and [player_tooltip player_id='1275769' first='Myles' last='Baker'] chipped in 13 points. The Wildcats once again solidified themselves as having the best backcourt in the state of Indiana. Meanwhile, in the front court, 6'6" sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1729136' first='Brennan' last='Miller'] turned in another double-double finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the loss for Fort Wayne Wayne, [player_tooltip player_id='1158193' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] scored 16 points and dished out 5 assists. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] added 15 points and 6 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game 6 - #3 (4A) Fishers 77 vs. #4 (4A) Kokomo 55</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fishers is making a statement with their perfect 6-0 start to the season. They dominated Kokomo in the second half of Saturday's nightcap defeated Kokomo 77-55. 6'6" senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner'] displayed his versatile on both ends of the floor finishing with a game-high 19 points to go with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'] added 13 points and 7 assists for the Tigers. For Kokomo, [player_tooltip player_id='2282357' first='Karson' last='Rogers'] continued his strong senior campaign with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Kansas signee [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] was held to just 4 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks on the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->