GREENCASTLE REGIONAL: High-flying Tigers power past Knights in regional opener

Brigham Booe (left) fires up a 3-point attempt on his way to a team-high 14 points for the Knights in the regional.

Carey Fox photo for the Banner Graphic

Northview knew full well coming into Saturday’s Class 3A Greencastle Regional opener that Indianapolis Crispus Attucks boasted one of the most explosive offenses in the state. Perhaps even watching the tape of the Tigers didn’t quite offer a true tale of just how good Attucks might be.

The Tigers poured in 28 first-quarter points and slammed home a half dozen gravity-defying dunks during the contest and held off a mid-game Knights’ rally to advance with a 70-52 victory over Northview in the regional opener.

Afterward, even Knights’ head coach Clint Weddle offered a wry smile before saying, “Man were they athletic,” in regard to the Tigers’ effort.

But Attucks offered far more than simply athleticism when it jumped out quickly behind a highly-efficient offensive game.

“(Attucks) hit shots consistently all day. They guard so well. I think they hit 12 of their first 14 shots,” Weddle said. “(Attucks) really got to the glass. We couldn’t give ourselves an opportunity, whether it is the defensive or offensive end. I think that was the biggest area in which the game was decided.”

Senior ZacAree Owens hit all three of his shot attempts for seven first-quarter points and classmate Nike Sibande added another six for the Tigers.

While the Knights took a haymaker of a punch from the Tigers to start the game, the senior-laden Knights weren’t going to be denied a serious challenging run.

Northview had little success getting to the rim against the quicker Tigers, but shifted their attack to the perimeter.

Brigham Booe hit a pair of 3-pointers in the opening quarter, but it was Braydon Tucker that locked in during the following period.

The junior drained his first four 3-pointers of the second quarter as Northview slowly began to whittle away at the Attucks’ lead to get within 40-32 at intermission. The Knights trailed by 34-15 late in the half before making a solid run to finish the quarter.

The Tigers scored the first bucket of the second half to push their lead back to double-digits briefly, but the Knights continued to gain ground.

Jensen Kellett followed a put back hoop by the Tigers’ Warren Williams with a score. Drew Lumsdon scored off an offensive rebound. The Knights were unable to capitalize on a Tigers’ turnover and Attucks’ Sibande followed with a rim-rattling tomahawk dunk off a Northview turnover. Unfazed, Dylan Hyatt followed with a 3-pointer as Northview capped its rally to get as close as 44-39.

However, Sibande, who had a game-high 22 points, drained a corner 3-pointer to halt the Knights’ momentum. Derrick Briscoe followed with a Tigers bucket and Sibande added two free throws to cap a 7-0 run.

Booe sank a pull-up jumper for the Knights and scored on a drive to end the quarter to keep Northview within 10 at 53-43.

NORTHVIEW (52) — Kellett 3-9 1-2 8, Hyatt 3-10 1-1 8, Booe 4-15 4-5 14, Tucker 4-10 1-2 13, Lumsdon 3-6 1-2 7, Shelton 1-1 0-0 2, Schane 0-2 0-0 0, Roembke 0-0 0-0 0, Cook 0-0 0-0 0, Mace 0-0 0-0 0, Bryan 0-0 0-0 0, Osborn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-53 8-12 52.

CRISPUS ATTUCKS (70) — Williams 2-3 0-0 4, Scanlan 4-10 2-4 10, Cooley 2-2 0-0 6, Harris 6-10 1-2 13, Sibande 9-16 3-4 22, Owens 4-6 1-2 10, Briscoe 2-3 0-0 4, Poole 1-2 0-0 3, Edwards 0-0 0-0 0, Tyran 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson-Bey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-53 7-12 70.

Northview 12 20 11 9 — 52

Crispus Attucks 28 12 13 17 — 70

3-point field goals — Nv 8-27 (Tucker 4-8, Booe 2-10, Hyatt 1-4, Kellett 1-3, Lumsdon 0-1, Schane 0-1), CA 5-15 (Cooley 2-2, Sibande 1-3, Owens 1-2, Poole 1-1, Scanlan 0-4, Harris 0-3). Total Rebounds — Nv 20 (Booe 6), CA 38 (Harris 7, Scanlan 7). Total Fouls — Nv 11, CA 14. Turnovers — Nv 12, CA 14.