North Harrison’s girls turned in a defensive gem in their 49-36 win over East Harrison in a makeup game Monday, while the boys lost a one point heartbreaker in the nightcap 47-46.
The girls led from wire to wire to get the win, and have mathematically clinched a tie for the HDC Conference Title. If they beat Mercer Saturday at noon in Mercer, they will win the title outright. The game was first moved to Thursday from Friday. After the Sheridan Express went to press, the game was then moved to Saturday morning at noon on Wednesday morning.
The Shamrocks, fresh off a disappointing loss to Princeton Saturday in Gilman City, got back to crashing the boards hard, springing Payton Craig loose, and playing stingy defense in the win. They also made their free throws, going 15 for 25 at the line after going 5 for 20 in the loss to Princeton. In the first game between the two teams, the Shamrocks jumped out to a 26-11 lead only to see much of it evaporate in the South Harrison Tournament as they had not seen a triangle and two look; other teams had led Payton Craig and Brandy Rivet score and try to shut down the others. They pulled off the 41-33 win, however, and were much more ready Monday night.
East Harrison skipper Bill Pottorff schemed and plotted to derail North Harrison’s run to the title, mixing up a straight zone, a diamond and 1 on Brandy Rivet, and a triangle and two on Rivet and Craig. His players were constantly swarming to any defensive rebounders with three and four players, forcing some errant passes and some strips. But his best-paid plans went awry as Payton Craig had a monster night with 24 points and 16 boards – she would simply dribble out of the pressure and take off down the court for some good transition looks.
The Shamrocks raced out to a 7-0 lead as Emma Craig got a putback, Addie Slaughter hit Brandy Rivet at the top of the key, and a Payton Craig drive resulted in two free throws. Natayla Selby chipped away at the free throw line to bring her team to within 9-5 after the first quarter and it looked like it would turn into the kind of ugly defensive struggle that the Bobcats were looking for.
Lauryn Waddle chipped away at the line, bringing her team to within 9-7, but a loose ball recovery by Mason Cracraft led to a pass from Addie Slaughter to Payton Craig to spark a Shamrock run. Brandy Rivet added a 3-pointer and Payton Craig beat pressure from the Bobcats to make it 18-7.
But then a questionable call by the referee, who claimed Craig was charging, sent her to the bench with her second foul. It was a premature whistle as she was trying to dribble between two defenders and there was no contact involved. With Craig out of the game, East Harrison was pressing, forcing turnovers, and they closed to within 19-13 at the half.
The Shamrocks restored order in the third quarter as Payton Craig and Emma Craig scored on back to back drives as the Shamrocks started to pull away again despite East Harrison swarming defensive rebounders and trying to get the ball away. Brandy Rivet added a free throw and later scored off a Craig steal as North Harrison pushed it out to 28-13.
The margin stayed between 12 and 15 until the fourth quarter, when Payton Craig took over. She scored 12 out of her 24 points and nearly got a double double in the fourth period alone, getting 8 of her 16 boards, grabbing errant East Harrison shots and getting loose in transition despite their best efforts to surround her. Addie Slaughter stripped an outlet and got a free throw and added a baseline shot and another free throw; Emma Craig added an inside shot as the Shamrocks led by as much as 49-30 before East Harrison scored three meaningless baskets at the end.
Payton Craig had 24 points to lead North Harrison. She had plenty of help as three other players had 7 or more. Brandy Rivet had 9, Emma Craig had 8, Addie Slaughter had 7, and Mason Cracraft had 1.
Olivia Babinski, Payton Craig, and Kami Gibson had 1 block each.
Payton Craig had 16 boards for the Shamrocks. Addie Slaughter continued her strong play on the boards, getting 11. Emma Craig had 6, as did Kami Gibson; Mason Cracraft had 3.
Olivia Babinski had 5 assists to lead North Harrison. Payton Craig had 4, Addie Slaughter and Emma Craig had 3, while Mason Cracraft and Brandy Rivet had 2.
Payton Craig had 8 tips for the Shamrocks. Emma Craig and Addie Slaughter had 3, Brandy Rivet and Olivia Babinski had 2, and Ashlynn Gilpatrick had 1.
Payton Craig had 5 steals for North Harrison. Emma Craig had 4, Brandy Rivet 3, Addie Slaughter 2, and Mason Cracraft and Olivia Babinski had 1.
The boys were not so fortunate as Adam Rinehart made a contested 12 footer over Steven Willhite to give the Bobcats a 47-46 win over the Shamrocks. The game was a well-played game; North Harrison had won several close games this year, but this one did not go the way they wanted.
They struggled to hit shots in the first half, as Collin Castleberry and Logan Craig were the only two to get in the scoring column for the Shamrocks, with Castleberry getting 14 in the half to keep his team in the game. North Harrison trailed 27-18 at the half.
Everyone else finally started to chip in during the third, and North Harrison nearly erased the lead, trailing 36-35 after three. Justin Roberts’ triple made it 42-36, but free throws from Logan Craig, a steal and third chance putback from Brett Emig, and a shot from Steven Willhite put North Harrison up for the first time since the fourth quarter at 44-42.
But then Rinehart’s triple put East Harrison back in front with 1:46 left. Roberts’ attempt at a dagger with just under a minute left went astray and North Harrison got a good possession, resulting in a pass from Logan Huitt to Steven Willhite on the left side to put North Harrison back up 46-45. Rinehart’s contested runner over Willhite was good with 6 seconds left, and the Shamrocks couldn’t get a shot off in the closing seconds.
Collin Castleberry had 16 points to lead North Harrison. Logan Craig had 15, Steven Willhite had 10, Collin Briggs and Brett Emig 2, and Logan Huitt 1.
Collin Castleberry and Brett Emig had 1 block each.
Collin Castleberry and Logan Craig had 7 boards each for the Shamrocks. Brett Emig had 6, Logan Huitt 4, and Steven Willhite, Gavin Garrett, and Collin Castleberry had 1.
Steven Willhite had 7 assists for the Shamrocks. Logan Huitt and Collin Castleberry had 3 each, Brett Emig and Logan Craig had 2, and Gavin Garrett had 1.
Brett Emig, Logan Craig, Logan Huitt, and Steven Willhite had 2 tips each, while Collin Castleberry had 1.
Collin Castleberry had 3 steals, while Logan Craig, Steven Willhite, and Brett Emig had 2 each.
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