By Bret Shambaugh
Contributing Writer
INDIANAPOLIS – In a Dec. 29 preview of the Jan. 14-19 Indianapolis City Tournament that makes a possible rematch a must-see, Class 4A No. 13 Indianapolis Cathedral outgunned 3A No. 4 Indianapolis Howe Academy, 100-83.
The visiting Fighting Irish torched the Howe nets at a 67-percent clip from behind the 3-point arc and shot 58 percent overall from the floor before a nice crowd at the Eastside school, allowing them to overcome a stellar 41-point outburst by Howe senior guard Larry Stone.
Prior to the contest, Howe Athletic Director Danny Wilson reminded me that sponsoring varsity sports was still in the new-beginning phase at Howe.
“We are very proud of how quickly our boys basketball program has brought athletic recognition to our school,” Wilson said. “Having this many people come out and support our kids is wonderful to see.”
Without question, the Hornets put on a terrific show. The house lights are dimmed to announce the starting lineup. The music sound system is handled marvelously, and the public address announcer is first-class and very enthusiastic.
For those of us who have been missing a good NBA tilt from the local team, this game satisfied those cravings. Cathedral (6-0) used a 15-4 run midway through the first period to set the tone for the contest: the Irish catching fire, the Hornets (5-3) relentlessly coming back.
Howe’s senior backcourt tandem of Larry Stone and Greg Foster continually reminded the Irish, as well as the packed house, that the Hornets were never out of it.
Cathedral connected on all six of its 3-point attempts in the second quarter and, with 3:01 remaining in the half, the Irish led 40-23. In the final three minutes of the half, however, Stone, Foster & Co. cut the lead to a manageable 10 at 48-38.
Howe had its best opportunity to make up lost ground early in the second half when Cathedral junior big men Kelsey Barlow (6’5”) and Errick Peck (6’6”) each picked up his fourth personal foul. But fellow junior Barry Flynn came off the Irish bench to provide very intense inside play in their absence, and the Hornets could only make up one point by trimming the lead to nine at 60-51 with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Flynn was not the only Cathedral player to make significant contributions off the bench – junior sparkplug Jarrett Hamilton (5’8”) scored a team-high 26 points. Howe consistently lost track of Hamilton when the Irish would run their break, and he made the Hornets pay dearly by going 9 of 12 from the floor.
The beginning of the fourth quarter meted out the ultimate downfall for the Hornets. Howe, which did not make a field goal over the first three minutes of the final stanza, desperately fell behind 88-64 at the 5:13 mark.
Beside the terrific scoring punch of Hamilton, Barlow (20 points), senior Dave McMahon (15 points), junior Pat Paligraf (12 points), and senior Sean Esposito (10 points) had the necessary answers for each Hornets’ run over the final five minutes.
The Irish executed their spread offense very well for incurring a late start to their season due to an excellent football campaign. Handling the Howe speed and high-wire acts will go a long way over the next two months in boosting the confidence of the Irish, who get no relief with their next matchup Jan. 2 at unbeaten Indianapolis Northwest (6-0).
On the other hand, Howe’s Mr. Basketball candidate and preseason All-State selection (Stone) along with his running mate (Foster) are worth the price of admission by themselves. And when the Hornets’ younger players learn how to play alongside the unbelievable speed of Stone, 3A defenses will want no part of this club in March.
Stone can score a variety of ways as the 5’9” jet shot 17 free throws (making 13) and was 6 of 12 from behind the arc. The 6’1” Foster, who added 25 points in going 10 of 12 from the floor, cannot be left alone – the swingman has an uncanny nose for the basketball.
Howe next competes Jan. 2 vs. East Chicago Central (5-2) at the Hammond Civic Center.
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