Tyler Zeller’s last appearance at the Hatchet House finished up like just like almost all of the rest of the home appearance during his record setting career did — with a win, and with Zeller making the big plays to help secure the win.
The Indiana Junior All-Stars saw a late lead slip away as Zeller and the Senior All-Stars claimed a 93-91 win in the first of two exhibition games before a good crowd in a sweltering Hatchet House on Monday.
Zeller had a quiet first half but a strong second half, finishing with 19 points and a team high 15 rebounds. The Senior All-Stars trailed late in the second half but a pair of Zeller free throws gave the Seniors the lead for good with just under two minutes to play. Zeller then blocked a shot on the other end — one of four blocks for Indiana’s Mr. Basketball on the night — to help stave off a Junior All-Star rally.
Thus Zeller went out a winner on his former home court. After the game, Zeller said his focus was simply on winning against a good Junior squad that gave the Senior All-Stars everything they wanted in preparation for the games against the Kentucky All-Stars on Friday in Indianapolis and Sunday in Louisville.
“Actually, I wasn’t thinking about that. I was just thinking about winning. You’ve got to go out and try to win every game, and I just went out and did everything I could to try and win” said Zeller. “They (Junior All-Stars) are a great team. I’ve played against them or watched them on their AAU teams. I’ve seen them all play, and they’re very good.”
Zeller’s familiarity with his own teammates on the Senior All-Stars has helped the team come together quickly. The Senior All-Stars only gathered for camp this past Saturday, giving them one week to prepare to face Kentucky.
“Team chemistry is really good right now because we know each other so well, we know what we can do, we know we can play together,” said Zeller.
Early in the game on Monday, Zeller found the going tough against a Junior team which collapsed one or even two perimeter players on him each time he got the ball in the low post. But as the game wore on Zeller adjusted, and the North Carolina recruit tallied 12 points and 11 boards in the second half alone.
“You just have to learn to adjust. I was being really aggressive in the beginning, then I realized what they were doing and I had to adjust and try to do something different,” said Zeller, who played at team high 28 minutes for the Senior All-Stars.
Alex Young of Indianapolis Northwest led the Senior All-Stars with 24 points and also pulled down 13 boards. Chase Stigall of New Castle also reached double digits with 15 points. Patrick Bade of Franklin Central led the Junior All-Stars with 24 points.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Tyler Zeller scored 19 points for the Indiana Senior All-Stars in their win at the Hatchet House on Monday---Photo by Todd Lancaster.
Discussion
Zeller’s 19 points help All-Stars to win
- Sports
-
-
Local wrap-up for Wednesday
North Posey scored four runs to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Washington, 10-7, in high school baseball at the Sports Complex Monday. -
Baseball sectional draw out
Washington’s baseball team opens on the first night of the Class 3A Jasper Sectional, while the Class A event at Loogootee has a similar feel to its softball cousin.
-
Helms and Gabhart vie for surveyor
Two local surveyors are asking Daviess County residents to vote for them in Tuesday’s primary election. Current county surveyor, Dennis Helms, is being challenged by Shawn Gabhart.
-
Local wrap-up for Saturday
Madison Decker took wins in the 800 and 1,600 meters in a triangular girls high school track meet Thursday.
-
Cougars win in walk-off fashion
Baseball was far from a thing of beauty for North Daviess at Wayne Davies Field Friday, but after everything was done, baseball really didn’t look all that bad.
The Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to clip Southwestern Indiana Conference foe White River Valley, 4-3. -
Arvin pitches shutout in WHS win
Washington was looking for a baseball hero, and found it Friday at the Sports Complex in the arm and bat of Pat Arvin.
-
Badgers beat IU in Big 10 tournament
Rob Wilson’s timely shooting put Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan at the head of his class.
Wilson scored a career-high 30 points, leading the 14th-ranked Badgers past No. 15 Indiana 79-71 in Friday’s Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. -
Tyler dominates in Carolina's ACC tourney win
Terrell Stoglin is a good start for Maryland’s rebuilding job.
He’ll need some help, though. -
Braves await No. 2 Barr-Reeve at regional
Barr-Reeve won its first sectional title since 2006 this past Saturday, but the Vikings have had little time to celebrate with the Class A West Washington Regional on the horizon.
-
Area girls have bright short-term and long-term futures
Some random thoughts as the basketball season winds down, and spring is preparing to be sprung.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Local wrap-up for Wednesday
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
