Hamilton Southeastern used a big third quarter to beat Columbus North 64-
54 in a Thursday evening home game.
The Class 4A No. 6 Royals led 30-24 at halftime, then took control by outscoring
the Bull Dogs 22-9 in the third. Four Southeastern players reached double figures, with Mabor Majak scoring 14 points to lead the way.
Chaz Birchfield added 12 points and Aaron Etherington scored 11. The three
were also the leading rebounders, with Birchfield pulling in eight boards, Etherington
six and Majak five.
The Royals had 24 team assists in the game. Etherington dished out seven assists,
while Nick Bowman and Noah Smith both handed out six.
Southeastern improved to 16-2 for the season. The Royals are off until Tuesday,
when they travel to New Castle to play the 3A No. 1-ranked Trojans.
Westfield’s Josh Van Dyke is guarded by Fishers’ Jordan Jones during the Shamrocks-Tigers game Thursday night at the Tiger Den. Fishers beat Westfield in overtime 63-56. (Reporter photo by Richie Hall)
Hamilton County Reporter
Basketball is a game of runs, and that was demonstrated perfectly Thursday night
at the Tiger Den between Fishers and Westfield.
The Tigers got the final run of the game, outscoring the Shamrocks 14-7 in an
overtime period to win 63-56. The terrific 3-point shooting of Jeremy Szilagyi and
free-throw shooting of Willie Jackson helped propel the Tigers to a Hoosier Crossroads Conference win as well as their first overtime victory of the season after two
OT losses.
“There were two games that were played out there,” said Fishers coach Matt Moore.
“That first stretch for us where we were really hitting offensively. And they made a
run and I thought we did a good job of just staying composed and had poise.”
The Tigers led 15-10 after the first quarter, with Szilagyi draining three 3-pointers on his way to 11 points in the period. Fishers then jumped ahead 31-26 at halftime; Szilagyi threw in two more triples and had 19 points.
Westfield’s Caleb Welch quickly tied the game at the beginning of the third quarter,
with a basket and a 3-pointer. The Tigers responded with a 9-0 run to go up 40-31.
Four different players scored for Fishers, including three points (layin and free throw)
for Willie Jackson.
A ‘3’ from Zach Banks ended the run, but the Tigers led 44-34 with 1:07 left in the
third. It was time for the ‘Rocks to start their roll in the fourth quarter, and they did.
Actually, Westfield’s run began early, with two free throws from Banks with 5.4
seconds left in the third.
Josh Van Dyke then nailed back-to-back 3s in the early stages of the fourth, getting
the Shamrocks within 44-42. Banks then tied the game on another 3, at 45-all.
Chris Chin pushed Westfield ahead 49-47 with his basket off a steal, and Josiah
Matthews answered with two free throws with 1:17 left. That was the final score of
regulation, which ended in a 49-49 tie.
Chin’s 3-pointer put the Shamrocks ahead 52-51 early in the overtime, but
Szilagyi answered with a jumper – his 23rd point of the game – and Fishers was up
53-52. The Tigers would steadily increase their lead during the extra period, with
Jackson getting it done from the line. Jackson went 8-for-8 during the game’s final
45 seconds.
“That’s what he does,” said Moore. “He’s going to go down when he graduates from here as probably the all-time free throw attempts person and free throw makes person. He’s got a unique skill to get fouled and he shoots a pretty decent percentage. And that’s what makes him unique.”
Szilagyi’s 23 points led all scorers, while Jackson finished with 13. Brendhan Russom
and Jordan Jones also had some big baskets during the late stages of the game; they
finished with eight and six points respectively.
Banks scored 22 points for Westfield, including four 3-pointers. Van Dyke totaled
15 points and three 3s, while Chin had 12 points.
“I thought we played well,” said Westfield coach Shane Sumpter. “It certainly came down to a lot more than the end of the game. Obviously, we let 21 (Szilagyi) have a big first half, and then we did a little bit better job in the second half. Offensive rebounds were big, really big, especially in the third quarter. But defensively, I thought we did a much better
job in the fourth quarter and I thought our guys hung tough.”
The Tigers are now 2-3 in HCC play and 8-8 overall. They are back in action Tuesday
at Anderson, the beginning of a four-game road trip. The Shamrocks are 1-4 in the
conference and 6-9 overall; they are back at The Rock on Tuesday to host Harrison.
The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation has a few fund-raising projects throughout the year, but one of the biggest is Game Day. This year’s Game Day event is set once again at Conner Prairie, Friday, February 23rd, 6:30-9:30pm
Money raised will go toward the foundation’s projects supporting all school in the Hamilton Southeastern school district.
There are a limited number of tickets available. To buy your tickets, use this link.
The Hamilton County Fraternal Order of Police Francis Castor Lodge #103 held a debate Tuesday among the four current Sheriff candidates. After the event, members voted to endorse Bill Clifford (center) as their selection to be the next Hamilton County Sheriff.
Shane Booker has been appointed executive director of the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency effective Feb. 12. Booker has been with the EMA for the past three years. He takes over from acting director Carl Erickson.
Booker has 20 years’ experience in public safety including law enforcement. He is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis and has most recently been managing projects for the county EMA. Emergency Management, the outgrowth of Civil Defense which was formed in 1950, is responsible for coordinating fire, police and other public services in response to community emergencies including flood, fire, tornado, dangerous chemical spills or other natural or man-made disasters.
Emergency Management is housed in secure facilities at the county sheriff’s department, 18100 Cumberland Road, Noblesville.
County officials have also announced the appointment of Monica Greer as director of the Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs. She will assume her duties in March replacing George Kristo who served 22 years in the position.
Greer has been a probation officer with the Hamilton County Probation Department the past four years. Originally from Yorktown, the Noblesville resident is a graduate of Ball State University.
The Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs works to discourage the use of alcohol and illegal drugs by local young people. The council sponsors various projects and provides financial assistance to DARE, MADD and other groups attempting to curb illegal substances.
The council offices are located in the county Government and Judicial Center in Noblesville.
With only a week to go before the deadline for candidates to file for this year’s primary election, many county and township incumbents remain unopposed. As is normal in Hamilton County, nearly all of those filed for major offices are Republicans. Democrats have candidates in the field for several state legislative seats, but none for major county office. Filing ends at noon Feb. 9.
Winners in the May 8 primary will secure a spot on the November election ballot. If no candidates run for an office in the primary, the political party leaders may fill their ticket in June. County Republicans are almost certain to have a full primary slate. Democrats say they will have some candidates, but not a full slate.
Still unopposed for re-election are incumbent Prosecutor Lee Buckingham, Superior Court Judge Gail Bardach, County Commissioner Christine Altman, County Councilor Amy Massillamany, County Assessor Robin Ward, County Recorder Jennifer Hayden and County Coroner John Chalfin. In addition, all but one of the county’s nine incumbent township trustees are unopposed in the GOP primary.
This year is considered an off-year election. But, county voters will select a total of 52 candidates for office, making the primary of great importance. But, voter turnout is usually low in off-year primaries.
In the meantime the political parties are gearing up for the primary and general elections. Republicans who opened their new county headquarters yesterday in Westfield are planning the annual Lincoln Day Dinner on March 22, according to county chairwoman Laura Campbell. Democrats will hold their Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in May or June, according to county chairman Joe Weingarten.
The following is a complete list of candidates for local office as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.
