It’s the 3a Indiana State Final and the Beech Grove Hornets are set to take on the Mishawaka Marian Knights. The game started off back and forth with both teams tied at the first media timeout. Let me say right now both teams fans and student sections are packing Gainbridge Fieldhouse and are loud and ready toncheer their student-athletes onto a state championship. Mishwaka deployed a 1-3-1 zone which confused the Hornets early on. Marian would take the lead out of the first quarter 13-7. Beech rove seemingly was going to live and die by the 3 as they shot 7 of them in the first half. The problem is they didn’t make a single one.
The Hornets would try and figure out this great zone but would come up short time after time giving away the ball with reckless abandon. The Knights would take advantage of this and score some easy buckets at the rim. Marian seemed to be able to do whatever they wanted on the offensive end going on a 7-2 run midway through the 2nd quarter. 6’6 forward Anthony Ball would assert his dominance in the paint and bring the Hornets back within two. The game would pick up in intensity just before halftime sending both fan bases into a frenzy. In what could turn out to be another amazing state final the Marian Knights would lead the Beech Grove Hornets 22-20 at the half.
The 2nd Half
Marian would switch up their defense to a 2-3 and force Beech Grove into a couple early turnovers. Beech Grove would overcome this with some great rebounding and timely shots. However the Knights would regain the momentum forcing some timely turnovers which turned into some easy buckets at the rim. Not to be outdone the Hornets would come back and take the lead for the first time with 3:40 left in the 3rd due to some amazing defense and 3-point shooting. At the under 4 media timeout the Beech Grove Hornets would lead 31-28. Beech Grove would hold the lead at the end of 3 36-34.
Defense and poor shot selection was the name of the game in the 4th. No one would score for the first 2 and a half minutes until Marian would get a steal and a layin from Paxan Sullivan. Beech Grove would take the momentum and the lead with just over 3 minutes to go 43-38. Beech Grove would go on to win the 3a State Championship. Big congrats go out to Beech Grove on a tremendous season.
