Page 21 - 2017-18 Boys Basketball State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Frankton Downs Crawford County for First State Basketball Title

A record-setting defensive effort paved
the way for another record, leading
Frankton to its first-ever boys basketball
state title. The Eagles came up with
19 steals – an all-class championship
game record – leading to a 60-32 win
over Crawford County. The 28-point win
beat the previous 2A record for margin
of victory by one point.
In its only other finals appearance,
Frankton lost in the 2015 Class 2A title
game to Park Tudor by 27 points – the
previous record for winning margin.
But the Eagles, coached by alum Brent
Brobston, left no doubt this time, build-
ing a 32-14 halftime lead and pushing
it to as many as 30 points the rest of
the way.
The Eagles’ pressure forced the (23-6) forced three straight turnovers game-high 23 points. Eight came to
Wolfpack into 13 turnovers in the open- during a 10-0 run that upped the lead start the quarter and gave the Eagles
ing 16 minutes and 25 for the game. to 11. After the Wolfpack closed to 18-9 a 40-14 lead. By the end of the quarter
Frankton guard Landon Weins had all at the end of the quarter, Frankton Frankton led 50-20.
five of his steals in the first half, while then scored the first eight points of the
teammates Maurice Knight and Patrick second to move on top 26-9. Crawford County, making its first finals
Spillman had four each. appearance, finished the season 22-7
With his team up 18 at halftime, Knight for Coach Levi Carmichael. Tyrell Nick-
Up 7-6 in the first quarter, the Eagles took over in the third, scoring 14 of his elson led the Wolfpack with 14 points.
Drive from Hunter White Delivers First State Championship to Tindley

game early in the fourth quarter and
again with 28.7 seconds left on Bar-
rett’s free throw. That set the stage for
White’s game-winning shot after the
Tigers worked the clocked down.
The Knights (22-7), coached by David
Barrett, were making their first appear-
ance in the state finals since winning
a Class A title in 2003. They led by as
many as six points in the first quarter.
They followed suite late in the first half,
with another 6 point lead. 26-20.
But the Tigers went on an 18-6 run
spanning the end of the first half and
start of the third quarter, opening up
a 38-32 lead on Sincere McMahon’s
Hampered by foul trouble the entire and played just 15 minutes total. He 3-pointer with 5:31 left in the quarter.
game, Tindley’s Hunter White still man- scored five points – 12.4 below his The Knights would chip away at the
aged to be on the court at the exact season average – but his final bucket lead, closing to 44-42 on 3-pointer from
time he needed to be. The result was made the Tigers’ first appearance in Tyler Powers just before the end of
the first boys basketball state title for the state finals a memorable one. the third.
the Tigers.
Tindley, which finished 24-5 under Chris Murff led the Tigers with 13
White’s bank shot in the lane with just Coach Bob Wonnell, led by as many points – nearly triple his season aver-
five seconds left gave Tindley a 51-49 as five points in the third quarter. But age – while McMahon added 10. Avery
win against Lafayette Central Catholic behind forward/center Carson Barrett, Denhart led the Knights with 17 points,
in the Class A title game. White picked who scored his team’s final seven while Barrett added 11 points and a
up his fourth foul in the third quarter points, the Knights rallied to tie the game-high 11 rebounds.

IHSAA State Basketball Tournament presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever 21