Game Report: Pike 48 Noblesville 44 (2OT)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Indiana had boots on the ground coverage at The Mill on Tuesday night for a Top 10 matchup featuring the #9 Noblesville Millers and the #3 Pike Red Devils. Unfortunately, the Millers were without their leading scorer and Valparaiso signee [player_tooltip player_id='1534261' first='Justin' last='Curry II']. He will mix one to two more weeks with a knee injury. There was still a lot of excitement leading into this one though and it certainly lived up to the hype.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the opening tip it was clear that Noblesville had a plan in place. They were going to try and control the tempo and limit the possessions in the game. Pike, who features four nationally ranked prospects, certainly had the talent and firepower to outman the Millers without Curry II in the lineup. However, Noblesville executed their game plan to perfection and Pike seemed willing to comply.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561054' first='Baron' last='Walker'] was able to get a couple of early buckets for Noblesville to keep the game knotted up at 7-7 after the first quarter. However, [player_tooltip player_id='2414872' first='Aiden' last='Woods'] was able to get loose for a couple of three-point shots in the second quarter to help Pike build a small 19-13 advantage heading into the half time locker room. The pace of the game was certainly still in the Millers' favor, but the Red Devils were simply able to create easier scoring opportunities which led to them holding the lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker stepped up big in the third quarter for Noblesville once again. The Butler signee was finally able to get loose from beyond the arc on a few occasions and made Pike pay by burying three three-point shots. However, the Red Devils seemed to always have an answer. [player_tooltip player_id='2194328' first='Jahari' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2538892' first='Landon' last='Lampley'] were able to match Walker's output in the quarter as Pike still held onto a lead, 30-24, heading into the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The pace had obviously been slow through the first three quarters, but it really came to a halt in the fourth quarter. Noblesville got another big three-point shot from Walker and briefly took a one-point lead following a layup off of a backcut by [player_tooltip player_id='1561045' first='Adam' last='Fine']. [player_tooltip player_id='2194328' first='Jahari' last='Miller'] answered by going 1-2 at the free throw line to tie it and the game eventually went to overtime with the scored tied 32-32.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first overtime period was much like the fourth quarter. Possessions were at a premium and clean opportunities to score were hard to come by. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2859684' first='Evan' last='Magsamen'] scored via a goaltending call with 1:24 to play in the overtime period to give the Millers a 34-32 lead. Noblesville led 36-33 with under 10 seconds to play, but turned the ball over on the inbound to give Pike a final shot at tying the game. A perfectly executed set play from the deep corner led to a wide open three-point shot by [player_tooltip player_id='2538892' first='Landon' last='Lampley'] which he buried to keep Pike alive and second the game into a second overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2519016' first='Luke' last='Fogg'] connected on a couple of three-point shots and Magsamen converted at the free throw line to put the Millers up 44-42, but they would fail to score again. An And-1 one by [player_tooltip player_id='2538892' first='Landon' last='Lampley'] gave Pike the lead back at 45-44 and they went on to survive 48-44.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2538892' first='Landon' last='Lampley'] finished with 18 points to lead Pike while junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194328' first='Jahari' last='Miller'] added 15 points. 6'10" junior forward/center [player_tooltip player_id='2266896' first='Isaiah' last='Hill'] was held to just four points, but added 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Butler signee [player_tooltip player_id='1561054' first='Baron' last='Walker'] scored 20 points to lead all scorers in the loss for Noblesville. He also had 9 rebounds and 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->