COLUMBUS -- Top-ranked and unbeaten Bloomington North outscored arch-rival Bloomington South 30-10 in the third quarter en route to a 74-30 victory over the Panthers that gave North an IHSAA 4-A sectional crown Saturday night.
The Cougars (22-0) led 21-12 at halftime, then they hit their first five shots of the second half, including a pair of three-pointers by senior Jared Jeffries. Suddenly, the Cougs led 34-14 and the sectional championship was theirs.
"This was our biggest game of the season so far," said Jeffries, who had 34 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. "It was bigger than the night I got the school record or even the night we clinched the conference because this was a more significant game. This game meant so much to our program. Yes, it meant a lot to me too, but the best thing for me was that I was able to give something back to my school. Bloomington North has done so much for my life."
Cougar coach Tom McKinney had a hot all-America and a hot team on this night. He was finally able to flash a smile after his team cut down the nets at Columbus North's Memorial Gym.
"When Jared gets hot, I have to step back," McKinney said. "I have to give him some space. Sometimes it's good for coaches to just let the players play the game. Jared played a fine game tonight, and we played as well as we can play."
Which is pretty well. Fifth-ranked South (19-4) came out with the intention of stalling. The Panthers ran two minutes and 25 seconds off the block before Reed Carmichael turned it over by stepping on the sideline in front of the North bench.
The Cougars then went on the attack against South's 2-3 zone. Matt Kalua, a defensive specialist, nailed a three-pointer. It was perhaps the biggest basket of the game because it forced the Panthers to play.
"Our job as guards is to look inside and find our post players," said Kalua, who will play soccer at the University of Wisconsin next fall. "But if they were going to leave us open -- too wide open -- we have to shoot the ball. We have confidence we can make the shot. It was there for me and I was confident I could make it."
South did tie the game at 5-5 on a drive by Scott Fisher with 1:32 left in the quarter, but the rest of the way North outscored its rival a whopping 69-25.
Nobody was hotter than Jeffries, the Indiana University recruit. The 6-foot-9 senior made 11 of 17 from the field. He also hit 3-of-4 three-pointers and 9-of-10 free throw attempts. He simply dominated the action despite committing three first-half fouls, two of them silly fouls.
When Jeffries got into foul trouble, sophomore Sean May came to the rescue. The 6-8 May repeatedly posted up and finished the night with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
But it was North's defense that won this game. Led by Kalua's pressure on South guard Kyle Hankins, the Cougars made it very difficult for the Panthers to get into any offensive flow.
South shot just 29 percent -- contrasted to a 63-percent night for North -- and had 10 turnovers. The Cougars didn't get a single player to double figures. Hankins and Fisher each had eight points.
"I feel it was our best game by far because everybody stepped up and played well," Kalua said.
McKinney had to make several tough decisions on this snowy sectional night. First he suspended center Mike Bridwaters for missing the morning shoot-around.
"We have a rule in place," McKinney said. "If it was for the state championship, I have to enforce it."
Then he had to decide on who to start in Bridgwaters' place. That call went to Clay Ludlow, but McKinney he also played three guards at times against the guard-oriented Panthers.
"It was important that we win this one for the school and for ourselves," Jeffries said. "Now Mike can get a second chance."
That will come Wednesday night when North hosts a fourth-round state playoff game against the Mooresville Sectional winner. Game time will be 7:30 (EST).
© 2000 dbulla@indiana.edu