Danville secured the Sagamore Conference boys’ basketball title with a 54-35 win at Crawfordsville on Friday night.
The Class 3A No. 1 ranked Warriors turned a 22-20 halftime lead into a 38-28 lead after three quarters before cruising in the fourth quarter to improve their record to 18-2. The SAC win gives them a perfect record in league play and conference title for the first time since 2021.
Crawfordsville (7-12) kept the high-powered Warriors off balance in the first half, but were unable to match the same intensity over the final 16 minutes. In the first half, Danville committed six turnovers and were only able to turn seven offensive rebounds into two second chance points.
“Danville’s obviously a really talented team,” Crawfordsville coach David Pierce said. “I felt like in the first half, we kept the game close.”
The tides turned in the third quarter. Danville started the period on a 6-0 run, holding Crawfordsville without a field goal for over four minutes.
“They took care of the ball in the second half, brought a little more energy and had more pep in their step,” Pierce said. “They were putting more pressure on our guards up top.”
Danville connected on 12-of-25 field goals in the second half — led by Evan Lawrence’s eight points and Caden Collins’ six. The pair of seniors led Danville on scoring with 12 and 10 points respectively.
For the game, the Warriors out-rebounded Crawfordsville 34-17 — and held the Athenians to a 16-of-40 shooting night, including 20% from three.
“Obviously when a team plays zone, you’re going to have to be able to hit some outside shots and when you’re 3-of-15 on 3-pointers, that’s just not going to get it done,” Pierce said. “And I thought we got out-rebounded.”
Zach Waits chipped in 10 for Danville on a pair of 3-pointers. Ethan McLemore led Crawfordsville with 11 on senior night, while Drake Burris added nine.
Crawfordsville is now 7-12 on the season, losers of five-straight, and finished 3-4 in the Sagamore. The Athenians welcome Central Catholic tonight.
