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We have four new state champions in Indiana. It was an exciting day as three of the four games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse came down to the final possession. Only the 2A game was a blowout. In terms of Purdue targets, one won a state title today, and another lost right in the end.
Class A
Indianapolis Tindley 51, Lafayette Central Catholic 49
Hunter White scored with five seconds left to give Tindley its first state championship. Purdue target Eric Hunter, a junior for Tindley, had a rough day going 3 of 11 from the floor for only 8 points, but he added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. One of his steals was the inbounds pass for LCC after White’s basket to seal the game.
This was a tight game throughout as Tindley led by 1 at the end of a quarter, trailed by 2 at halftime, and led by 2 after three. Avery Denhart had 17 to lead all scorers. Carson Barnett tied the game with 28 seconds left by hitting one of two free throws for LCC.
Class 2A
Frankton 60, Crawford County 32
Frankton had very little trouble in winning its first ever state title. They jumped out to an 18-9 lead after a quarter and 32-14 at the half, meaning they needed just one second half point to secure the title. They got it and more.
Maurice Knight was the player of the game with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting for Frankton.
Class 3A
Indianapolis Crispus Attucks 73, Twin Lakes 71
With Crispus Attucks legend Oscar Robertson in attendance (he won titles in 1955 and 1956 with the Tigers) Crispus Attucks added its fourth state title and first since beating Kokomo in 1959. With the game tied Jamal Harris grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a 5 foot putback with a second left to give the Tigers the win. This came after Bryce Bennington of Twin Lakes tied it with a free throw with 36 seconds left.
Crispus Attucks led 25-19 after a quarter but Twin Lakes ran off 25 third quarter points to lead 61-57 going into the final period. Teyon Scanlan had 24 points for Crispus Attucks and Nike Sibande had 23 points. Bryce Bennington had 32 for Twin Lakes.
Class 4A
Ben Davis 55, Fort Wayne North 52
Devontae Kinnie missed a three-pointer as time expired and Ben Davis won it sthird state championship, and first since 1996. Keion Brooks, one of the top players in America in the 2019 class (and Painter has been after him for a while) had 8 points and 4 rebounds on 3 of 10 shooting. Jaylen Butz had 11 points and 12 rebounds for FW North.
Fort Wayne North led by 4 after a quarter and at halftime, but Ben Davis overcame foul trouble to score 20 fourth quarter points. Jalen Windham led Ben Davis with 15 points.