Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern finished the regular season on a spectacular note Thursday, shocking Class 4A No. 2 Lawrence North 51-49 at the Wildcats’ gym and running its win streak to 13 games.

The 4A No. 9 Royals held the lead for most of the first half, going up 15-8 by the end of the first quarter, then leading 28-17 with 2:30 left in the second period. The Royals led 30-20 early in the third, but the Wildcats made a 17-6 run to regain the lead at 37-36 with two minutes left in that quarter. LN led 39-38 at the end of the period.

Vinny Buccilla and Elliot Robinson made back-to-back 3-pointers to get HSE up by seven early in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats made another run to take the lead, going up 49-46. Kole Hornbuckle then converted a three-point play with 1:01 left to tie the game at 49-49.
Southeastern got a defensive stop with under a minute and held for the last shot when Robinson was fouled with 18 seconds left. Robinson made both free throws to put the Royals up by two. Lawrence North got one more chance, but missed a last-second 3-pointer.

“Great team win,” said HSE coach Brian Satterfield.

Hornbuckle finished the game with 13 points. DeAndre Rhodes dominated the boards with 12 rebounds, while Hornbuckle, John McCall and Mabor Majak each collected five. Buccilla handed out four assists.

The Royals finished the regular season 17-5 and will play Carmel in the first round of the Noblesville sectional at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.