By Jeff Hodge
Contributing Writer
CRAWFORDSVILLE – North Montgomery had to go overtime to post a 50-44 defeat of Western Boone, while Crawfordsville coasted in the second half of its 64-53 victory over host Southmont Jan.9 in the opening round of the Sugar Creek Classic.
Following is a review of each game ahead of the Jan. 10 championship and consolation games.
Game 1: North Montgomery 50, Western Boone 44 (OT)
Western Boone blanketed and harassed Purdue-bound D.J. Byrd the entire first half of the opener and seemed to be doing a great job of taking him out of the game. The effort gave the Stars a great chance to pull off an upset in the third annual tourney.
But the 6’5” Byrd seemed to finally snap out of his funk with 3:29 remaining in the third quarter and the Chargers trailing 26-23. Byrd and Western Boone’s Trevin Poole became entangled, resulting in a double foul and Byrd going to the bench for about 30 seconds.
Upon returning to the game, Byrd scored six points and assisted on another basket to help the Chargers end the third quarter with a 31-28 lead. Yet Western Boone responded by hitting back- to-back 3-pointers by sophomore Brandon Burtner and senior guard Aaron Vaughn to take a 34-31 lead with six minutes remaining in the game.
Neither team was able to get more than a four-point lead in the fourth quarter. With North Montgomery clinging to a 42-39 lead, Poole forced overtime by knocking down a three with 1.2 seconds remaining.
The Chargers were able to prevail in the overtime by limiting Western Boone to only two free throws in the fourth-minute extra session. Byrd led all scorers with 27 points, while Vaughn led the way for Western Boone with 19.
The Chargers got outrebounded in falling behind early. .
“It was intense out there,” said eighth-year North Montgomery coach Scott Radeker. “I think back to all the games we have played with them, and it always seems like this.
“They’re ****, a little bit. They get after you, and they are scrappy.”
North Montgomery (7-3) scrambled all night with Western Boone (4-5), falling behind 7-0 in the first 2:23 of the game and trailing 14-12 after one. The second quarter was rather **** as both teams misfired repeatedly, and the Stars still held a 23-21 halftime lead.
Byrd paced the Chargers with eight first-half points, while the Stars were led by Vaughn’s 13.
North Montgomery advances to the tourney’s championship game Saturday night against Crawfordsville, a 64-53 winner over Southmont.
Game 2: Crawfordsville 64, Southmont 53
Led by senior Jordan Boykin, Crawfordsville (4-4) owned the floor in the second half as the Athenians advanced with an 11-point conquest of the host Mounties (3-4). The C-ville senior center scored 16 of his game-best 22 points after intermission.
“He set the tone for himself,” said first-year Athenians coach John Blackwell, not at all happy with his team’s play after a first half in which Crawfordsville trailed 30-29. “He had the floor in the locker room before I got there myself.
“I was really, really pleased that he showed that kind of leadership.”
