By Bret Shambaugh
Contributing Writer
NEW CASTLE – The 29-4 run that Class 4A fifth-ranked New Albany made in the opening half of the 2007 City Securities Hall of Fame Classic championship game Dec. 28 was all the class of the Hoosier Hills Conference needed to achieve a most-decisive 67-51 victory over 3A No. 2 Batesville in a battle of Bulldogs at New Castle Fieldhouse.
New Albany (8-0), which surely will fly up in Chris May’s next “Tickling the Twine” Top 15s following this win and a 51-46 upset earlier in the day of 4A top-ranked Marion, put on an outstanding shooting display in the first half against Batesville (6-2).
New Albany shot 71 percent over the opening 16 minutes, including a torrid 9-of-12 effort from behind the 3-point arc. Batesville, the pride of the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference, shot a disappointing 28 percent over the same span.
Making matters more difficult for already fatigued Batesville (the Bulldogs may have used up all their energy in a 66-65 morning barnburner over 3A top-ranked Edgewood) was New Albany’s bench, which outscored Batesville’s 23-5.
New Albany senior reserve Matt Lynch was simply unstoppable from 3-point range on this Friday night following Christmas. Lynch converted on all five of his first-half trey attempts and, at one point, the 6’4” guard scored nine consecutive New Albany points.
The gun-slinging Lynch finished with a game-high 20 points.
Also in double figures for New Albany was sophomore sensation Donnie Hale. The 6’7” left-handed center finished with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting while adding a team-high seven boards. Hale’s best memory of this day will be his resounding dunk to close the first half – a slam at the horn that made the halftime score New Albany 44, Batesville 17.
Batesville placed three players in double figures. Senior guard Tony Narwold led the way with 13 points (including three 3-pointers), while preseason All-State selections Colt Ryan (junior) and Alex Grimsley (senior) finished with 12 each.
Just like with Terre Haute South in the girls tourney one day earlier, the third time proved to be the charm for New Albany in the Hall of Fame Classic.
Winners of both the 1980 consolation (after losing in the semifinals to Winston Morgan/Stew Robinson-led Anderson Madison Heights) and the 2001 consolation (following a semifinal loss to Bloomington North and Sean May) contests, the Bulldogs were not to be denied in their third trip to this terrific 31st annual late-December event.
New Albany should be the clear-cut favorite to win the Seymour Sectional in early March.
Batesville, on the other hand, should re-group quickly. The Bulldogs’ tremendous fan support will remind them come March that fatigue cannot be allowed to enter into the equation. The 3A southern semistate is loaded with high-powered programs, and Batesville should be one of the noise-makers.
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