D is key for Indy

INDIANAPOLIS — Defense, as it usually is, had been Craig Teagle's mantra all week.
He repeatedly told his players that they could be an outstanding defensive force if they wanted to be.
With the game on the line Saturday, they proved their all-star coach correct.
Lock-down defense keyed a 20-2 run for the Indiana Senior All-Stars Saturday as they erased a six-point deficit on the way to an 83-73 victory over Kentucky at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.
“That’s how I felt we could play defense all along,” said Teagle, whose Jay County High School team limited opponents to a school record 35 points during the 2011-12 season. “We went through about an eight- to 10-minute stretch where we were just outstanding. … It’s hard to get a good look when they decide to play hard and get to spots and communicate.
“This group has length. They’ve got quickness. They’ve got intelligence. They just played lockdown defense, and that was really fun to watch from my standpoint.”
Trailing by one at the intermission, Teagle told his players they needed a quick start in the second half only to have them struggle and fall behind 55-49. But after a hoop by Lawrence Central’s Jeremy Hollowell, who will play at Indiana University next season, off an assist from Mr. Basketball Gary Harris (Hamilton Southeastern/Michigan State) the Indiana defense stifled its opponents from the south.
R.J. Hunter (Pike/Georgia State) came up with a deflection that led to a Yogi Ferrell (Park Tudor/Indiana) lay-up on the other end, and then hit a 3-pointer that gave Indiana the lead for good with 11:15 remaining.
“I think it was just more of a communication thing,” said Hunter, the son of Georgia State coach and former IUPUI coach Ron Hunter. “We haven’t played a lot together. Gary and Yogi just kicked it up and we all followed suit.”
Ferrell scored off of another Hunter steal, Hollowell came up with a put-back basket and Hunter hit a free throw before Kentucky finally stopped a 12-point Indiana run.
However, Teagle’s team scored eight more points in a row, with Hollowell burying a 3-pointer and Hunter getting a steal and dunk. Hunter had three steals during the game-deciding run, and Harris, Ferrell and Hollowell each added one as Indiana forced 22 Kentucky turnovers in all.
Harris took the game’s MVP award with 17 points and five steals. Ron Patterson (Broad Ripple/Indiana) had 14 points, and Hunter finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks.
“R.J. Hunter was amazing,” said Teagle. “He used his length … he used his vision, and he just played outstanding. … He played well. He’s going to make his dad a heck of a player and Georgia State.”
Hollowell added nine points and nine rebounds.
Indiana pushed its run to 30-5 when a deflection by DeJuan Marrero (Bowman Academy/DePaul) led to a hoop by Ronnie Johnson (North Central/Purdue) on the other end. It was up by as many as 19 points in the second half before Kentucky closed the gap in the final two minutes.
The victory completed a perfect week for Indiana, which also beat its junior all-star counterparts Monday in Seymour and Wednesday in Pendleton Heights. It fought off Kentucky 90-85 Friday in Louisville.
Harris called his week with the All-Stars memorable.
“I had a lot of fun with these guys for the last week,” he said. “We’ve all bonded. It’s been competitive at times, but it’s been a great week.”
“It’s been a great experience,” added Teagle, who coached JCHS to the Class 3A state championship game in 2006. “All 13 kids were really nice young men, and they all each had a strength or a skill set they could give our team. …
“As a high school basketball coach, a state championship is your first goal and your second one would be the Indiana All-Star coach. I’ve accomplished one of them. I’d like to try to get the other sometime.”

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