In the opener on Tuesday night, the host Bronchos used three-pointers from four different players along with a stout defensive effort to defeat Kokomo by 11. Zionsville and Logansport went to overtime to decide the winner of the second game.
James Burns had three blocks and Marell Jordan added four steals as the Bronchos played a 2-3 zone for most of the night that limited Kokomo’s ability to score inside.
The Wildkats were hurt by the foul trouble that plagued point guard
Trajan Deckard, who picked up three fouls in the first half then nabbed his fourth foul just
1:50 into the second half.
Anthony Barnard had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as Lafayette Jeff pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Kokomo ends their season at 12-12 while the Bronchos advance to take on McCutcheon on Friday night in the semifinals.
Boxscore at the bottom of the page.
The nightcap pitted Zionsville against Logansport. The Berries began the game with a box and one defense against star guard
Isaiah Thompson. The strategy worked in the early going, with Thompson going six minutes before getting a shot attempt and several turnovers committed by the Eagles. Mark Stremme came off the bench for Zionsville to hit three three-pointers in the first half, while junior forward
Nathan Childress dominated on the interior on both ends as the Eagles took an 8 point lead into the locker room.
Logansport would jump back into the game in the third behind
Sam Skaggs and
Will Penny. Their defense also limited the effectiveness of
Nathan Childress on the interior. The Berries forced turnovers and capitalized on the offensive end to the tune of 16 points in the third quarter.
Each team played methodically in the fourth before a
Sam Skaggs 12 footer at the buzzer fell off the side of the rim. In overtime, Zionsville scored the first seven points of the extra period and never looked back.
The Berries finish at 16-7, while Zionsville will face Harrison in the second semifinal on Friday night.
Zionsville 8 17 9 5 13 - 52
Logansport 10 7 16 6 4 - 43
Logansport:
Sam Skaggs 15 points (5/14 FGs, 2/8 3Ps, 3/3 FTs), four steals;
Will Penny 14 points (5/17 FGs, 1/9 3Ps, 3/5 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks; Zach White 7 points; Elijah Crowe 6 points (3/5 FGs), 4 rebs; Jake Cox 1 point; Tucker Platt 5 asts
Kokomo 10 12 6 11 - 39
Lafayette Jeff 8 15 8 19 - 50
Kokomo:
Anthony Barnard 13 points (4/13 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 11 rebs;
Trajan Deckard 10 points (4/7 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 1/3 FTs);
Jeremy Baker 7 points (3/11 FGs, 1/5 3Ps), 5 rebs; Julian Wallace 5 points; Kyle Wade 2 points; Nate Hemmerich 2 points
Lafayette Jeff:
Marell Jordan 14 points (6/12 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 5 rebs, 3 asts, 4 stls; Alex Cotton 9 points (3/6 3Ps);
Maximus Grimes 9 points;
James Burns 8 points (3/6 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 blks;
Avery Beaver 5 point (2/9 FGs, 1/7 3Ps); Zaire Williams 5 points