Bluejays, Warriors win openers

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:44PM

Things didn't change from game time to the post-game, North Judson and Winamac moved on as expected.

The Bluejays had no problem at all with Hebron, dismantling a Hawks team that had been hot coming into the tourney, 82-63.

But Boone Grove made it interesting, taking the Warriors into the final minutes before falling 48-41.

In fact, when Boone junior Lukas Kemp dropped in two free throws with 2:41 to play, Winamac was up 41-36, and if the Wolves had been a little bit better about not turning the ball over in the fourth quarter, it might be them moving on instead of a Winamac team that played state-ranked North Judson even in their two regular-season matchups.

But down the stretch the Wolves had to foul, turned the ball over and Winamac moved on to play North Newton on Friday night.

"I've had young teams before," said Wolves coach Matt McKay, "You're in the ball game, then with three minutes to go we're right there, then it's an eight-point ball game. If we has hit some of those shots in the first half, it would be a different story."

North Judson (20-1) is a veteran team with one senior starter, guard Andrew Frasure. And it doesn't hurt that it went 11-of-19 from 3-point range.

"We have good balance," said Judson coach Ryan Bales. "We shot the ball extremely well, especially from the 3-point line. We had a lot of unselfish play."

Frasure scored 16 points, junior Kendall Hochstedler dropped in 18 and Winston Yergler had 13 points and seven assists. And then there was John Eckert, who scored 26 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and added three assists and two steals.

"John was very aggressive, especially early in the game," Bales said. "He had some nice put backs and attacked the rim hard."

Hebron coach John Steinhilber couldn't have been prouder.

"I'll take the family I've got in that locker room today. They're hurtin' right now, but the progress we've made ... of what we've achieved means so much," he said.

"I'm also proud of the community support, it has been tremendous."

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