TERRE HAUTE —
There will be a new champion in the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic this year, thanks to one of the greatest scoring performances in the 13-year history of the boys high school basketball tournament.
Robinson’s Aaron Siler scored 39 points, 19 in the deciding fourth quarter, to lead the Maroons to a 63-58 victory over two-time defending champion Terre Haute North.
The total for Siler, who hit 12 of 22 shots from the floor and 12 of 13 free throws, ranks second only to the 40 points Indiana State’s R.J. Mahurin tallied for Rockville in 2007. Mahurin also had a 38-point game in that tournament.
“He’s that type of player that can take over a game,” Robinson coach Mack Thompson said, recounting Siler’s 35-point second half last year in the sectional.
North (5-4) tried everything to stop the 5-foot-11 Siler. The Patriots applied stopper guard Austin Lewis, tried traps and switches and even body-checked him, but Siler’s quickness, ball-handling skill and stutter starts and stops left the defense behind.
“We tried everything. We tried different guys on him. The bottom line is he just made good plays. He’s a good player. He hit tough shots,” North coach Todd Woelfle said.
And it took nearly every point Siler scored to overcome a strong performance by the Patriots.
“For us to come in [to Terre Haute] and weather their storms … [The Patriots] just kept coming at us and coming at us. We’d get the lead [and] they’d come back. They’d get the lead and we’d come back and luckily the clock ran out on them and we had the lead when it counted,” Thompson said.
Calvin Blank led North with 25 points and six rebounds, followed by Lewis with 13 points.
“Both teams gave great effort. I’m sure when we go back and look at the tape, I’m sure it’s going to be a game of several missed opportunities for us. We got really good looks at the basket, especially the second half, missed a lot of easy [shots] around the basket,” Woelfle said.
The tournament championship game Monday evening will be hard-pressed to match the intensity and raw emotion that both teams showed in a very physical basketball game.
After playing to a 29-29 standoff in the first half — Siler hit an NBA-length 3-pointer at the buzzer over the outstretched arm of Casey Vickers — North slipped out to a 46-40 at the end of the third quarter when Blank scored a three-point play, hit two free throws and Lewis hit a free throw.
Lewis put back a rebound to give North a 48-42 lead a minute into the fourth quarter. That was the last North point for the next four minutes.
Starting with the first Robinson basket of the fourth quarter, Siler scored eight straight points for the Maroons, tying the game 48-48.
Michael Akande, a 6-5 junior who was in foul trouble most of the game, put Robinson ahead 50-48 with 3:30 to play. Then Siler, a jump shooter, was fouled on a 3-point shot, and hit all three free throws to put Robinson ahead 53-48 with 3:07 to play.
“We missed a lot of easy ones. We got good looks. We were driving to the rim, got to the rim and weren’t able to finish,” Woelfle said.
A.J. Grady finally broke North’s scoring drought when he put back a rebound and was fouled with 3:07 to play.
Blank hit a 3 from the top of the circle to give North a 58-57 edge with 30 seconds left. Robinson’s Siler hit two free throws to give the Maroons a 59-58 edge.
North called timeout to set up the final play with 5.7 seconds on the clock. The Patriots got the ball to Blank, who spun to the basket, put up the shot and it rolled of the rim.
In the rebound battle, a foul was called, tempers flared and a technical was whistled. Blank was not ejected from the game, according to Woelfle.
Robinson’s Siler capped his 39-point night and the Maroons’ win with four straight free throws.
“Robinson had a good team. They played well today,” Woelfle said.
Robinson celebrated taking down the champ.
“I told [the players] this wasn’t the championship [game]. That [atmosphere] was just the elite eight [in Illinois]. We got two more games to get ready for,” Thompson said.
ROBINSON (63) — Scott 3-3 0-1 7, Nicholas 3-7 2-2 8, Akande 1-4 4-4 6, Blount 0-3 0-0 0, Siler 12-22 12-13 39, Hoaland 0-0 0-0 0, Richart 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 20-40 FG, 18-20 FT, 63 TP.
TERRE HAUTE NORTH (58) — Hart 0-8 0-0 0, Lewis 4-12 5-7 13, Blank 7-11 9-9 25, Davis 3-7 1-2 10, Jahn 1-4 0-0 3, Grady 2-4 1-1 5, Vickers 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 18-50 FG, 16-19 FT, 58 TP.
Robinson 13 16 11 23 -- 63
Terre Haute North 13 16 17 12 -- 58
3-point shooting — R 3-6 (Siler 3-6, Scott 1-1, Richart 1-1), THN 7-16 (Blank 3-4, Davis 3-6, Jahn 1-2, Vickers 0-1, Hart 0-3). Total fouls — R 19, THN 21. Fouled out — Nicholas, Akande. Technical fouls — Siler, Blank. Turnovers — R 11, THN 9. Rebounds — R 28 (Scott 7, Nicholas 6), THN 31 (Hart 9, Blank 6). Steals — R 3 (Akande 2), THN 2 (Lewis, Jahn).
Next — Today, North (5-4) will play Shakamak at 4 p.m. and Robinson (11-1) plays Northview at 7 p.m. at Terre Haute South.
High School
Related Photos
-
Looking for a call: Terre Haute North basketball coach Todd Woelfle appeals to the refs during the Patriots' loss to Robinson on Friday. Assistant coach Nate Blank has his own reaction. (Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis)
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Moving on: Aaron Siler drives to the basket past the defense of Terre Haute North's Austin Lewis in first-half action of their second-round game of the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic.
Discussion
New kid on the block: Siler’s 39 points lead upstart Robinson to memorable win over North
- High School
-
-
Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.
-
West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
-
Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.
-
Northview powers way past Terre Haute South in sectional semifinal
Northview unleashed power rarely seen in high school girls softball Tuesday night to eliminate Terre Haute South 8-1 in the Class 4A Sectional at Martinsville High School.
The Knights hit three home runs in an eight-run third inning to reach the championship game. -
Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
Keirra Porter took first place in two individual events and helped Terre Haute North win one of its relays as the Patriots captured the Evansville Central Regional team championship in girls high school track and field Tuesday night.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: South tennis cruises into regional final
Terre Haute South didn’t lose a game en route to blanking Seeger 5-0 in girls high school tennis Tuesday to advance to today’s championship match against Crawfordsville in the Greencastle Regional.
-
Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Shakamak's Green hits two homers in win over West Vigo
Shakamak improved to 22-3 on the season behind a complete-game effort from Brett Yeryar, and Patrick Green hit two solo home runs in a high school baseball game Monday.
-
Terre Haute North offense unable to get going in loss to Mooresville
Jack Kirchner chose to give credit Monday night to Mooresville pitcher Taylor Chitwood, not to the Greg Maddux-size strike zone she seemed to enjoy.
But if there were no excuses forthcoming from Kirchner and his Terre Haute North High School softball team, it wouldn’t have been hard to find a spectator or two to come up with extenuating circumstances about the Patriots’ 4-1 loss at the Class 4A Martinsville Sectional. -
Terre Haute North looking strong going into girls track regional
Terre Haute North might need an off night for anyone to catch them in the girls track regional at Evansville Central.
The Patriots are as well-rounded as they’ve ever been, and two relay teams are state contenders with times ranking No. 2 in Indiana among times recorded all spring.
Terre Haute South, Northview and Sullivan have athletes among the contenders in multiple events as well. -
South tennis ready for potential challenge in regional
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
-
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
-
Terre Haute South, Northview vie for tennis regional title
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
Coach Bill Blankenbaker’s Braves will play Seeger at 4:30 p.m., while coach Emily Goff’s Knights will take on Crawfordsville about 6 p.m. -
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.
-
TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game
Terre Haute South wrapped up a share of the MIC baseball title and finished up the Big Four Classic with an 8-1 victory over Northview in less than 24 hours on Saturday morning.
-
Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout. -
South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North
Host Terre Haute South kept its Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title hopes alive — and clinched no worse than second place in the process — by downing Lawrence North 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night.
The second game, which started after Senior Night festivities between games, ended past the Tribune-Star deadline. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion
Brandon Calleja had 13 strikeouts to lead West Vigo to a 5-1 victory against South Vermillion in high school baseball Friday.
Brandon Behringer went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Vikings, who secured second place in the Western Indiana Conference.
Kaden Lawson had double for South Vermillion (15-7), which finished 4-2 in the WIC. -
Seibert returns from injury to win three events as Braves win sectional crown
His baseball equivalent might be Rick Sutcliffe of the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
When Tyler Seibert returned to the Terre Haute South track and field lineup Thursday for sectional action at Terre Haute North, it was like the midseason trade the Cubs made for Sutcliffe that earned them a playoff spot. -
South switches up lineup to defeat North in tennis sectional
Terre Haute South coach Bill Blankenbaker said two weeks ago that he would change the Braves’ lineup after the 3-2 dual-meet loss to Terre Haute North.
The Patriots knew it was coming, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it. -
PREP ROUNDUP: North slips past Northview in eight-inning baseball game
Colton Pittman drew a bases-loaded walk to score Zach Milam with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as host Terre Haute North edged Northview 8-7 in high school baseball Thursday at Jennings Field.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: North and South to face off for tennis sectional title
The winner of the Terre Haute sectional for girls high school tennis will come down to Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South.
-
Terre Haute North gets 10 event victories to claim 12th straight sectional crown
Terre Haute North won 10 events Tuesday night while winning the Indiana High School Athletic Association girls track and field section at South Putnam High School for the 12th straight year.
-
North, South to meet in first round of baseball sectional
The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced pairings for the baseball state tournament Tuesday and the draw offered up a Vigo County battle in the opening game.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: West Vigo softball clinches share of WIC title
West Vigo clinched at least a share of the Western Indiana Conference softball title with a 6-4 victory over Edgewood on Tuesday.
Jacy McClain and Bailee Waters had RBI singles in the fourth inning to break the game open for the Vikings. -
Track sectional titles on the line
Expect one heck of a high school dual track meet Thursday night when Wabash Valley boys visit Terre Haute North for sectional action.
-
Prep report: Patriots, Braves favored to advance from tennis sectional 1st round
Persons attending this week’s girls tennis sectional championship match at Terre Haute North might want to pack a lunch.
-
Local ADs happy to see spring come to a close
Brian Mancuso is the most experienced of the high school athletic directors in Vigo County — and that’s a very relative term — but even he wasn’t quite ready for the headaches that have accompanied spring sports the last few weeks thanks to rain, rain and more rain.
-
South baseball remains in first-place tie with Center Grove
Heading into Saturday’s Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference baseball doubleheader against Center Grove, coach Kyle Kraemer of Terre Haute South wasn’t completely optimistic.
- More High School Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Today in History May 22
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
