FRANKFORT —
Deep, physical Lafayette Central Catholic jumped on Rockville early in Class A Frankfort Regional high school basketball Saturday afternoon, and the Rox never really recovered.
The result was a 65-55 loss, Rockville’s first setback since the 2012 state championship game and leaving this year’s Rox three wins short of bettering that accomplishment.
Winning a state championship appeared to be a very reasonable goal for Rockville throughout most of the regular season, which included a beefed-up schedule, a Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic championship and a sweep of Vigo County opponents.
But the team’s depth and its regular rotation was compromised by an off-the-court event about a month ago, and the Rox took a further hit earlier in the week when a sinus infection blossomed into a Thursday night hospital stay and a 104-degree fever for forward Jordon McFall.
McFall played — “I can’t say enough about Jordon McFall,” coach Dave Mahurin said after the game. “He spent Thursday night in the hospital, but he gave us all he had” — and it’s a good thing, since the burly Knights seemed to substitute at every dead ball.
“The way I played was probably about 95 percent,” the teary-eyed McFall said after the game, “but I gave 120.”
Effort wasn’t really Rockville’s problem Saturday, and Josh Brown gave the team some effective minutes off the bench. But the Rox didn’t shoot well; for a while they didn’t rebound at all, partially because the Knights rarely missed shots themselves — and yet they might have overcome all of that were it not for Timmy Mills, who messed up the whole Rockville defensive strategy.
A 5-foot-11 senior who entered the game as the Knights’ third-leading scorer with a 10.1-point average, Mills got his average in the first quarter, hit 9 of his first 10 shots from the field including four 3-pointers, finished with a game-high 26 points and for good measure added eight rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
“It was a good day for him to have [the day of his life],” Rockville’s Lane Mahurin said.
“He made some shots,” coach Mahurin added. “We tried to stop No. 32 [LCC’s leading scorer Andrew Hubertz, who didn’t score until the fourth quarter], but [Mills] really stepped up and made a bunch.”
He made four of them in a personal 8-0 run late in the first quarter that put the Knights ahead 14-7. Then it was Lane Mahurin’s turn as the Rockville star accounted for the next seven points — an assist on a Keiontre Wilkey layup, a banked-in jumper to beat the first-quarter buzzer and a 3-pointer less than a minute into the second quarter — as the Rox came back to tie.
That was the first of four ties in a second quarter that also included six lead changes, as LCC had no answer defensively for Lane Mahurin. On the other end, however, just about the only stops Rockville got were on turnovers by the Knights — including a pair of steals by Wilkey — as LCC shot a consistent 70 percent for the first half on its way to 62 percent for the game. A 3-pointer by Mills — of course — broke the last tie, giving the Knights a 28-25 lead 1:08 before halftime, and Jake Churchill thwarted Rockville’s last-shot strategy with a steal and layup.
Rockville increased its intensity in the third quarter and got within two points twice, 32-30 following a putback by Nick Waltz and a 3-pointer by Gary Ulrich and 34-32 when Lane Mahurin stole the ball and threw down a windmill dunk that electrified the Rockville crowd. LCC showed no signs of panic, however, and two more 3-pointers by Mills helped the Knights build their lead back to 44-36 and 47-39.
McFall hit his second straight 3-pointer to cut into that margin, and it was 48-43 at the third stop. Rockville had the ball most of the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, but without converting possession to points, and reserve Nick Thompson got free for a layup that had the Knights ahead 50-43.
But Ulrich hit a 3-pointer, Waltz ripped down a defensive rebound following a rare miss by Mills, and Lane Mahurin got a fast-break layup at the other end. Ulrich stole the ball, and Rockville had a chance to tie or take the lead.
Then, suddenly, Hubertz appeared. He stole the ball for a layup, his first two points of the game, then stole it again to set up a 3-pointer by Churchill. Now the Rox were seven points behind, and after a McFall 3-pointer the Knights scored twice in a row to go up by eight. There were no miracles to come for the Rox.
“[The Knights] have a good team; we knew coming in they were good,” coach Mahurin said. “We didn’t shoot very well, and we seemed to get flustered at times.
“But I’m really proud of these guys. [Winning] 25 in a row is hard to do,” Dave Mahurin added. “I’m incredibly proud of my seniors.”
“We came out and couldn’t buy a basket,” Lane Mahurin said. “We didn’t really know what to expect, and [the Knights] kind of got the better of us tonight.”
“We just couldn’t make shots,” McFall said. “We had the same shots we’ve been hitting all year, they just didn’t go down. [The Knights are] a great team, and great shooters.”
“It was their day,” added Ulrich. “We played hard, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Churchill added 18 points for the Knights, who earned the right to meet Liberty Christian in Saturday night’s regional championship. Liberty Christian was too quick for Union (Modoc) in a 70-56 win in Saturday’s first semifinal game.
Lane Mahurin ended his Rockville career with one of his better all-around performances: 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals while also guarding Hubertz (”Lane’s pretty good,” Dave Mahurin said after his younger son’s final high school game). McFall scored 14, Ulrich had 11, Waltz grabbed seven rebounds and Wilkey had six assists.
“It’s a sad day, but I’ve got a lot to be happy for,” said Ulrich. “I have no regrets coming to Rockville [after playing as a freshman at Terre Haute South]; I’ve had some of the best times of my life.”
“It was a fun run; I’m glad I got to do it,” added Lane Mahurin. “I’d have liked it to go on a little more.”
ROCKVILLE (55) — Mahurin 8-16 6-7 23, McFall 5-15 1-2 14, Waltz 2-5 0-0 4, Ulrich 4-13 0-0 11, K.Wilkey 1-4 0-1 2, J.Brown 0-2 1-4 1, Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Weisheit 0-0 0-0 0, R.Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Thurman 0-0 0-0 0, Paddock 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-55 FG, 8-14 FT, 55 TP.
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (65) — Hubertz 3-8 1-2 7, Cronk 1-1 0-1 2, Mills 9-13 4-4 26, Olinger 1-2 1-2 3, Churchill 7-11 3-4 18, Witteveen 1-1 0-0 2, Ulery 0-1 2-2 2, Anthrop 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 2-2 1-2 5, DeBoy 0-0 0-0 0, Thieme 0-0 0-0 0, Metzinger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-39 FG, 12-18 FT, 65 TP.
Rockville 11 14 18 12 — 55
Lafayette Central Catholic 14 16 18 17 — 65
3-point shooting — Rockville 7-31 (Ulrich 3-11, McFall 3-13, Mahurin 1-3, Waltz 0-2, Wilkey 0-2), LCC 5-12 (Mills 4-5, Churchill 1-3, Hubertz 0-4). Total fouls — Rockville 18, LCC 15. Fouled out — none. Turnovers — Rockville 12, LCC 11. Rebounds — Rockville 32 (Mahurin 8, Waltz 7, J.Brown 3, Ulrich 2, Wilkey 2, McFall, team 9), LCC 30 (Mills 8, Hubertz 6). Assists — Rockville 15 (Wilkey 6, Mahurin 4, McFall 2, Ulrich 2, Waltz), LCC 13 (Mills 5). Steals — Rockville 7 (Mahurin 2, Wilkey 2, J.Brown 2, Ulrich), LCC 6 (Hubertz 2, Churchill 2). Blocks — Rockville 4 (Mahurin 3, McFall), LCC 2 (Hubertz 2).
Next — Lafayette Central Catholic (17-8) played Liberty Christian (20-5) for the regional championship later Saturday. Rockville finished 25-1, Union (Modoc) 17-6.
High School
Rockville suffers tough loss to Lafayette Central Catholic
Rox unbeaten season derailed in regional
- High School
-
-
North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. -
Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
Posing side-by-side for photos following Terre Haute North High School’s Senior Awards ceremony, seniors Calvin Blank and Chanli Mundy couldn’t look more different.
-
West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter
West Vigo got off to a good start in Class 3A high school sectional baseball action Wednesday evening at Dick Ballinger Field.
The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning of the first sectional game and went on to defeat Brown County 10-0 in five innings with Kevin Stewart hurling a two-hitter. -
Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown
It was a lot tougher than some thought it would be, but the Terre Haute South girls tennis team won the Greencastle regional for the second year in a row Wednesday evening at DePauw University Tennis and Track Center.
-
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. - More High School Headlines
-
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
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
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
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
