{"id":12559,"date":"2024-01-28T22:31:45","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T03:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=12559"},"modified":"2024-01-28T22:31:46","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T03:31:46","slug":"1-blue-devils-leave-hangar-with-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/28\/1-blue-devils-leave-hangar-with-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"#1 Blue Devils leave Hangar with victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RANDY HISNER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCertainly the feeling I got tonight was \u2018We can play with these guys,\u2019\u201d said Adams Central boys\u2019 basketball coach Aaron McClure after the state\u2019s top-ranked 2A team, the Tipton Blue Devils, edged his squad 60-51 at the Hangar Saturday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even some of the most faithful Jet fans might have doubted that feeling early in the game when the hot-shooting Blue Devils (16-1) sped out to an 18-7 lead in the first quarter and kept the pedal down till it was 33-14 with barely over a minute left in the half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Braylend Reber tries to drive to the basket from out of the corner. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But Trace Maller hit two free throws at the 1:17 mark and followed with a baseline drive with 28 seconds left to break Tipton\u2019s momentum and give the Jets (12-3) a lift at the intermission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nolan Swan was lethal from distance Saturday night for #1 Tipton, leading the Blue Devils with 19 points. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still, a 33-18 deficit looked daunting, especially against a team as talented as the Blue Devils. They made nine of 20 three-point attempts in the first half, including three each from sharpshooter Nolan Swan (Tipton\u2019s leading scorer at 20.8 ppg) and Sam Quigley. Junior phenom Grady Carpenter\u2014who is listed as a 6-6 guard but plays everywhere, including inside defensively\u2014drained a pair of long-range shots. He also directed the Tipton offense with uncanny court vision and pinpoint passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second half was a completely different show. A resilient Jet team turned the tables on the Blue Devils in the third quarter, hitting nine of 13 two-point attempts to earn an 18-11 advantage and trim the lead to eight at 44-36.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n