Columbus North’s Cooper Horn shoots a contested shot while guarded by Bloomington North’s Lucas Vencel during a basketball game at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Feb. 18, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Bloomington North gave Columbus North many opportunities to come back late in the game Friday night.
The Cougars missed free throws that opened the door for the Bull Dogs. However, a potential game-tying 3-pointer was off the mark with 12 seconds left, and Bloomington North hit one free throw at the other end to seal a 49-45 Conference Indiana boys basketball decision.
With the score 47-45, Cougars star JQ Roberts was fouled and sent to the line. He would only convert on one of the two attempts. The Bull Dogs got it to Ty Ferguson, but his contested 3-pointer bounced off the rim.
“It was a very physical game. Bloomington North did a really nice job of when every time we penetrated, they had hands all over the place,” Columbus North coach Paul Ferguson said. “We turned the ball over too many times in the first half. That was uncharacteristic of us. We did a better job with it in the second half, but our offense never really quite got going.”
The Bull Dogs (13-7, 2-3) went ahead 6-3 in the first quarter, but a couple turnovers that led to easy baskets helped Bloomington North (13-5, 3-2)go on a 6-0 run to lead 9-6. Ty Ferguson and Cooper Horn each hit a 3-pointer for the Bull Dogs, and Roberts had a couple 3s to end the quarter gave the Cougars a 15-14 lead.
Both offenses stalled a bit in the second quarter. A 3-pointer from Ty Ferguson gave Columbus North a 20-19 lead. Bloomington North finished out the first half on a 6-2 run to lead 25-22 at the break.
After a 3-pointer by Horn tied the game early in the third quarter, the Cougars went on an 8-3 run to give them a 33-28 lead. Right at the end of the quarter, Ty Ferguson hit a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to make it 35-32 heading into the fourth.
For the Bull Dogs, Horn had a team-high 20 points, and Ty Ferguson added 12. Roberts led Bloomington North with a game-high 21 points.
Columbus North will look to put this game behind it as they has a senior-night matchup tonight with potential sectional foe Franklin.
“Franklin is a different team. They play more defenses. They’re not as physical, but they’ve got some athletes. They have some really good athletes,” Paul Ferguson said. “Tonight’s game will help us for (today). We have not played a team that athletic with that quick of hands that has been that physical in a while.
“We’ve got Franklin and we got Center Grove (on Thursday),” he added. “It’s going to be three really tough games. We can learn from this and get better from it. I think in the sectional, it’ll make us better, but it stings tonight.”
Bloomington North 49, Columbus North 45
Bloomington North;15;10;10;14;—;49
Columbus North;14;8;10;13;—;45
Columbus North (13-7, 2-3): Luke Harmon 2 0-0 5, Tyler Blythe 1 1-2 3, Damon Edwards 1 0-0 2, Ty Ferguson 5 0-1 12, Cooper Horn 7 3-4 20, Caleb Ferguson 0 2-2 2 Drew Schiefer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 6-9 45.
3-point goals: Columbus North 6 (Horn 3, Ferguson 2, Harmon).
