It’s here! The start of the boys basketball season begins tonight as the Battle of Noble County Gives us East Noble vs West Noble at the Big Blue Pitt! Coming off two interesting seasons in 2021-22, both teams look to get off to a good start as they look to send a message to the 260 that they’re ready to compete with the big dogs. This is a rivalry owned by East Noble as they’ve won 37 of their last 45 meetings. West Noble’s 59-48 win last season was their first win against EN since the 2012-13 season.
Two schools filled with a lot of history in Kendallville, IN tonight.
Headlines going into this game
1. Big time studs rising their stocks
With West Noble, the 260 should know a thing or two about the greatness of Bethel Commit Austin Cripe. He may not always be right, but there’s a guarantee that Austin knows how to play basketball. Coming in at 1,174 career points, Cripe is a natural scorer in many different ways. He makes clutch 3’s of course, but he also has the ability to take it to the cup when he needs to. He’s a multi-talented player that can score, distribute, rebound, and defend at a high level.
On the other end of the rivalry, Brandon Durnell’s EN Knights are still in the acquaintance stage for what’s to come for this program. Now, while I don’t take scrimmages too seriously, it shows an eye opener of the kind of season we’re going to see from Hunter Kline! Hunter had 28 points and 22 boards vs Busco in that scrimmage. Now you can look at this and say “Holy Toledo! Busco looks bad!”, and you might be right. But there’s no denying Hunter Kline is a Real Deal! He’s tall but he’s versatile, and Brandon knows what it takes to dominate as a forward.
Look what he did at Homestead and Spring Arbor! Brandon had that it factor for them, and he’s showing you guys “Hey, I found another one of those guys on my team!” In fact, you’re seeing why Brandon is becoming this up and coming coach because he’s making an immediate impact on this East Noble culture. We’ll talk about the other kids in a bit.
2. The Bank could be opened at Campbell & Fetter Bank tonight $$$
Ok I’m partially joking here, but let’s be honest. These two teams can hit the 3-ball faster than Hunter Sosenheimer saying BULLSEYE on SummitCitySports DOT COMMMMM! By the way, the game will be streamed on the SCS Network via YouTube, Facebook, or IHSAATV.
Back to he real topic. These two teams have some big time dogs on this team, and let me say I think we can see the 3’s fly tonight. We know Cripe can cash and splash, but don’t forget there’s a new sheriff in town, and his name is Slow, but it’s Sheriff Slone, Derek Slone! He’s going to play the 2 guard slot that can shoot the ball well and has fantastic chemistry with Cripe on the floor.
Nevin Phares, a 6’2 combo forward, is one of WN’s better defensive players at the wing slot 32% from the 3 last season and averages 1.7 assists per game. If you try fouling him, Phares has been a 70% FT shooter in his career.
For East Noble, Owen Ritchie aka O-Money already knows a thing or two about making 3’s at EN. Last season, he shot 39% from 3 and 44 made 3’s! Holy Steph Curry! I mean when he’s hot, how can you guard that shot?? And Brandon’s faster tempo offense thrives with players like him that aren’t afraid to fire that shot. And word on the street is Nathan Bowker is a dark horse for a big season for the Knights! It’s an exciting game because East Noble is only getting better as this team continues to mold their identity in the Durnell era.
3. This game could go down the Wire. Can the Chargers win a close game?
These games these days tend to be competitive since Ethan Marsh took over as the West Noble head coach. West Noble runs that motion offense so that’ll allow the Chargers ample opportunities to score off the fast break and getting shots to fall. The issue with WN is not the system itself, it’s simply not finishing off plays. The zone press is efficient when the players are on the same page and playing Charger basketball.
East Noble has really become one of the more exciting teams to watch recently as this team always play hard and they’re showing they can play with a faster tempo style of basketball. Now the questions will always surround whether the Knights can find that consistency on the defensive side, but I do think it’s promising to see this team having a renowned confidence.
The interesting question becomes can the Chargers win the close games in big moments? That’s something they’re still trying to solve. Since 2018-19, WN is 6-27 in games decided by single digits. Guess what their record was last year in single digit games, 0-9! All 9 losses came by single digits. 5 of the 9 came in the NECC (twice to CN). If the Chargers can figure out how to close out these games, right there is the difference between the thrill of winning and the agony of defeat! They have talent, they have the pieces to win, they just have to put it altogether. It’s a puzzle within another puzzle.
Players to watch
West Noble
Austin Cripe Senior Point Guard
Cripe averages 15 points a game in his career against the Knights. But last season he dropped 30 points, 8 boards, 5 assists, and 5 steals against this Knights team. He’s one of the key players to watch every time West Noble plays because of player of this caliber is rare to come by from this part of the state, and he makes this a unique challenge for opposing defenders.
East Noble
Hunter Kline Senior Power Forward
Last year, EN’s most improved player of the year was Spencer Denton and Denton is now playing college ball after what looked like an uncertain future just a few years ago.
The irony here is last year. Hunter only had 2 points and 2 boards against West Noble last season. In fact, their returning leading scorer in that game is actually Max Bender who had 8 points, 2 boards, and an assist.
Hunter’s had 2 career double-digit scoring games so far, with his career high being 17 points against (YOU GUESS IT) BUSCO. His career high in rebounds is 6 which came in his sophomore season against DeKalb and Prairie Heights. The most FG attempts he’s taken in a single game is 9, which also came against Busco. Expect these numbers to be shattered this season because Hunter Kline is about to be a new man!
Time to Ride with Kline!
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