Orleans boys' basketball tangles with Class 1A No. 3 Loogootee in Sectional 63 classic

As seconds ticked off the clock at Jack Butcher Arena, the Orleans boys’ basketball team needed to make a move. The game against Class 1A No. 3 Loogootee was tied 45-45 in overtime, the Lions had the ball and an opportunity to forge ahead.

Then Carter Allen happened.

Loogootee inbounded the ball to sophomore guard Leighton Jeffers and as he came across the halfcourt line, he settled around the edge of the logo. He turned and put his left hip into Allen, then spun off of him to create space. .

The problem was that he didn’t have the basketball.

Allen did.

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Round One: Orleans boys' basketball falls behind late against Loogootee at Jack Butcher Arena

The sly sophomore had picked Jeffers’ pocket and was headed to the other end of the floor. As he reached the free-throw line, a defender caught him, cutting off his lane but leaving his wingman wide open. Allen dished the ball to Bryce Jones with a nonchalant behind-the-back bounce pass. The freshman finished it with his left hand and the foul, then hit the free throw for good measure. 48-45 Bulldogs.

A missed Loogootee 3-pointer, a rebound and a free throw later, it was 49-45 Bulldogs. That would be the final score as Orleans pulled off the upset, downing one of the best teams in the state in the opening round of sectional play.

Though he didn't put points up in the game, Allen’s big play was the straw that broke Loogootee’s back. Making his performance more impressive is that he’d been sidelined since Orleans’ Feb. 8 matchup with Mitchell, when he was carried out of the gym with an injury.

“He’s missed six games in a row and hasn’t practiced at full speed a lot except yesterday. He’s practiced, but we haven’t asked him to do everything,” Orleans coach Tom Bradley said. “We kept asking him how he was feeling and even if it was with a grimace he always said that he was okay and then he got that steal. It just shows his toughness.”

For his teammates, Allen’s return was a lift. Even if he wasn’t 100 percent, he was still able to make a difference.

“It was huge. We didn’t even know he was playing until game time. I’m glad he got to play as much as he did because he’s a huge difference-maker out there,” Orleans sophomore guard Ian Hall said. “That pass, that was a huge decision and a big moment and I’m very glad it worked. I’m sure he is too because if that didn’t work, it probably would’ve been pretty bad.”

Lions jump out to an early lead

Though the end was a tight one, the game wasn’t particularly close early on. In fact, it had the makings of an ugly outing for the Bulldogs after the first few minutes.

From the tip, Loogootee was at Orleans’ throat. One Bulldog turnover turned into a Loogootee basket, then another, then another. Orleans called timeout, down 6-0 before some fans could find their seats.

The timeout didn’t help.

The Lions scored six more points in succession, extending its lead to 12-0 with about five minutes left in the first quarter.

Orleans tightened up its defense, but couldn’t get on the board until the 3:36 mark of the first quarter. The Bulldogs exited the first quarter down 15-6 — a deficit arguably better than they may have deserved after the slow start — but still had a bit of ground to make up.

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Peyton Bledsoe was potent during the opening period for Loogootee, scoring eight of his 27 points in the first eight minutes, as was Parker Arvin who scored five of his 14.

Ian Hall heads up comeback effort for Orleans

Despite the deficit, Orleans didn’t let its early slip snowball, keeping its collective cool and regrouping.

“I tried to stay calm, keep the team calm. We’re a young team, we had pregame jitters,” Hall said. “It was a lot of kids’ first sectional so I wasn’t too worried. I knew we’d get back in it.”

When the Bulldogs needed to get back in the game, down 12-0, they turned to their No. 12, Ian Hall. The sophomore has starred for Orleans pretty much since stepping on the court last season, finishing third on the team in scoring as a freshman before stepping up to become its scoring leader in his second go-round.

He’s had many good games before, but this one may have been his best work, his masterpiece.

Time after time, the Bulldogs called on Hall to provide them with buckets and nearly every time, he answered affirmatively. He scored four of their first six points, then exploded for a career-high 29 in total.

He also knocked down the basket that sent the game to overtime, slicing through the Loogootee defense before springing up for a clutch mid-range jumper, and canned the free throw that proved to be the final nail in Loogootee’s coffin.

“He’s been having a really good week. Last week he had a good game against Brownstown and he’s been shooting the basketball well in practice. I just kept thinking that we were going to call his number,’ Bradley said. “He’s going to make the plays for us and he can rise up really well. Thankfully for us, he was knocking down shots plus those free throws, he had some big free throws for us as well.”

Looking ahead

The win was just the third for Orleans (17-7, 5-1 PLAC) in its last 10 cracks at Loogootee (18-6, 7-1 Blue Chip). It was also the Bulldogs’ first win over the Lions at Jack Butcher Arena since 2014.

While the Lions saw a strong season that included a shared Blue Chip Conference championship come to an end, the Bulldogs will get to carry on.

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They’ll be tasked with taking on another titan in the semifinal round as they’ll try to oust Class 1A No. 4 Barr-Reeve. The Bulldogs and Vikings will play in the second game at Loogootee on Friday night.

“We need to get some rest. Obviously, we spent a lot (of energy) on this game here, but I thought we played well,” Bradley said. “I think this game gives you confidence. I think winning this on their home court, the kids have to think that they can play with anybody. I have a lot of confidence in our guys and I know they have a lot of confidence in themselves.”

Contact Times-Mail sports reporter Auston Matricardi via e-mail at amatricardi@tmnews.com or on Twitter at @amatricardiTM.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Orleans takes No. 3 Loogootee to overtime in instant sectional classic