INDIANS UPSET AT REGIONAL

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 3:30 PM

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The season came to an abrupt end Wednesday evening for the Lawrenceville Basketball Indians as they were upset in the semi-finals of the Class 2A Vandalia Regional tournament by the Robinson Maroons. The game was tight and low scoring as neither team could take control until the fourth quarter. Robinson led 7-6 after one and the Indians led 13-12 at the half. The Maroons held a 26-24 lead heading into the final quarter and began to slowly pull away as the Indians fell apart emotionally and physically. They could not score offensively and piled up the fouls defensively with Robinson hitting free throws and baskets down the stretch to pick up the win. The Indians shot only 44% from 2 pt range and were 8% from 3 pt land as they were held to their lowest point total of the season. Senior Bryant Jenkins was the only Indian in double figures in his final game with 14 points, but he was hampered by fouls and fouled out in the final minutes, hurting the Indian comeback chances. The Tribe bow out of the Class 2A tournament series after an outstanding regular season at 25-4, but failed to realize the promise of a deep postseason run. Robinson was led by Cole Weber with 18 and Owen Schmidt with 17 and avenged two regular season defeats by the Indians. They are now 11-19 and will face Flora in the final Friday night at 6 p.m. Flora defeated Fairfield 59-43 in the second semi-final.