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.
Sports
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
- Sports
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Defense: West Vigo second baseman Lucas Fagg fields a ground ball for an out in the Vikings semi-final sectional baseball game with Edgewood.
-
West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
-
Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves. -
Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
Ask any IZOD IndyCar series champion and he’d say he would gladly give up that championship to win one Indianapolis 500.
-
South Vermillion pitches team to sectional title, wins for her dad
South Vermillion snapped one streak and extended another Thursday night to win Class 3A Sectional 28 8-5 over Brown County at Edgewood High School.
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. -
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
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.
-
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
-
West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
- Local Interest
-
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
-
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. -
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.
-
Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
-
-
West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
- BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
- PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
- South Vermillion pitches team to sectional title, wins for her dad
- Green's grand slam helps Shakamak to sectional win
-
- College
-
-
Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
-
Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
-
Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
-
ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
-
Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
- Sports Columns
-
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. - TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
- Pro Sports
-
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Terre Haute Rex
-
Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
-
2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
-
2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
-
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
-
-
Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
Ask any IZOD IndyCar series champion and he’d say he would gladly give up that championship to win one Indianapolis 500.
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
-
Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
George: I slipped up
LeBron, Wade on OT win
Hill responds after Game 1 loss to Heat
Vogel: We've got to play better
Spoelstra: Welcome to the Eastern Conference Finals
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Coach's quick call saves Moore football team
Sergio Garcia issues an apology to Tiger Woods
Sergio Garcia makes insensitive remark about Tiger Woods
Athletes come to aid of Oklahoma tornado victims
Tiger Woods on his relationship with Sergio Garcia
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Race Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Behind the Seams: Big Spenders are Busts
Red Wings take 2-1 series lead
McReynolds: Johnson Coca-Cola 600 favorite?
McReynolds: 48 Team primed for Chase
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
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
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
