'This year, it was a business trip.' Scottsburg gets semistate revenge on Guerin Catholic.

SEYMOUR – Guerin Catholic was looking to get back, but Scottsburg got its payback instead Saturday night.

Meeting for the second consecutive year in a Class 3A semistate inside Seymour's Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, the fourth-ranked Warriors weathered a tug-of-war first quarter against the sixth-ranked Golden Eagles before settling the score in the rematch, 70-54.

A year removed from missing out on the program’s first semistate title after losing to Guerin last March, Scottsburg (24-5) seized the momentum from behind the arc this time, shooting 9-of-16 in the first half and 12-of-20 overall from deep to make history.

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“It’s motivated us since the day it happened (last year). It fueled us, and that’s all we wanted to do. Just come here and get revenge,” Scottsburg senior Wyatt Zellers said. “This is something we’ve talked about since we were a little kid.”

Much like their adoring elementary and grade-school aged fans seeking autographs after the game, the Warriors played with youthful persistence despite being senior heavy.

However, it was the starting lineup’s one junior, who stole the show after a first quarter packed with seven lead changes and two ties.

Scottsburg trailed 12-11 late in the first quarter before senior Jack Miller buried a 3-pointer in the final seconds to flip the scoreboard, 14-12. Afterwards, junior Dare Bowles picked up the torch and the Warriors never looked back.

Bowles followed up Miller with a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, which continued a 14-4 Warriors’ run, while Scottsburg converted 5-of-7 jumpers from behind the line.

Bowles finished the second quarter a perfect 4-for-4 from deep and had 18 points by game’s end with 15 in the first half – all on 3-pointers (5-of-7). He shot 6-of-8 in total from long range.

“He was awesome. All year, he’s been kind of under the radar with teams. They’ve been helping off a little bit, trying to be in gaps when me or Jack (Miller) or anyone drives, and he stepped up and hit the shot when it counts most,” Scottsburg senior Kody Clancy said. “He plays a huge part in our success.”

Bowles’ third second-quarter 3 put Scottsburg up 25-16 before his fourth stretched the margin to 10 points. A splash 3-pointer by Clancy with seconds left before halftime pushed the Warriors back up by double digits, 34-23.

“He was a big difference maker for them tonight, and once they got that lead, Clancy and Miller, strong veteran guards, gave us fits on defense a little bit,” Guerin Catholic coach Bobby Allen said. “But they deserved the win tonight. Of course, we’re disappointed. We would have loved to have played for a state championship again, but I’m proud of the season we had.”

The Golden Eagles (22-8) reached the 3A state finals last season, losing to NorthWood in overtime. Guerin was competing in its third semistate tournament in four years and was aiming to make its fourth trip to state since 2012.

Clancy’s game-high 26 points – 14 in the second half – in addition to Miller’s 10 total points and Zellers’ 12 and six rebounds fended off the Golden Eagles.

“It’s huge. Last year, we were so close, and to come out on the other end of it just motivated us more to get it done this year,” Scottsburg coach Eric Richardson said. “These guys just hung in there and battled. They were focused all year to get to this point.”

They were well supported by a gym overflowing with purple and gold.

“Our community. They were amazing last year, and it’s kind of boiled over through this year. They’re amazing, especially the game being this close. They showed out in full force,” Richardson said.

“With my son being on the team and being able to experience this with him and all his best friends. They’re all like my sons. It’s super special, especially with the group that we have.”

Senior Caden Richardson provided four points but dished out 10 assists, including on a majority of Scottsburg’s 3-pointers.

The Warriors shot 65% from the field, 60% from 3-point range and were 16-of-23 from the foul line. Scottsburg netted 36 points off 3s and 17 off Guerin Catholic turnovers.

Guerin charged back in the second half with a 9-4 run in the third quarter captained by senior Jack Cherry, who kicked off the rally with a 3-pointer. He later assisted senior Dylan Murans on a buzzer-beating 3, which cut the deficit, 48-43.

The Golden Eagles pulled within five points twice between the third and fourth quarters, but another Warriors’ 8-1 run in the fourth quarter kept them in control of their destiny.

Cherry had nine points and five assists for Guerin. Junior Bryson Cardinal finished with a team-high 18 points and five rebounds, followed by Murans with 17 points and four assists. Senior Andy Caron had six points, six rebounds and five assists.

 “It’s hard to win. It’s really hard to win games, and I feel lucky that we have a group of kids in our program that want to compete and want to get better every day and fight. Even when things don’t look very good, here we are back in the game,” Allen said. “That’s why guys like the seniors, you don’t get that group very often.”

Cherry, a four-year starter, was part of Guerin’s wave of success since 2020-21, which resulted in three sectional and regional titles, three semistate appearances, one semistate title and a 3A state runner-up finale.

“Our goal was to get back to state again because we lost it last year, but we came up short. I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates and coaches for all their hard work,” Cherry said.

“Seems like I was just playing as a freshman here. It went by too fast, but I’ll have all these memories to look back on. I’m going to miss high school basketball.”

The Warriors’ four senior starters will have to wait two weeks before facing No. 13 South Bend St. Joseph (20-9) in their final career game in downtown Indianapolis. South Bend St. Joseph beat No. 7 Delta, 44-41 in triple-overtime to clinch a spot in the state finals.

Before losing to Scottsburg, Guerin Catholic overcame a nine-point first-half deficit to beat No. 3 Danville, 57-52, in the semistate semifinals. Scottsburg beat No. 15 Evansville Bosse, 58-45, in the semistate morning session.

“We’re not all the way there yet. You know? We got one step closer, but to get that close last year and having four seniors on the team, they were super motivated all offseason,” Richardson said. “We try not to think about the results. We want to think about our process and how to get there. It was process driven this year.”

That process has spanned nearly a decade for the Warriors’ seniors, who have competed together since the second grade.

“It’s a blessing. I’ve known these guys all my life. Just to go to Gainbridge in Indy, coach has been talking about it all year, so to finally accomplish that, beating Guerin. It’s indescribable,” Clancy said. “Last year, we were kind of happy to be here. Just seeing how it is and enjoying it. This year, it was a business trip. We got the job done.”

If they repeat the feat on March 30, then Zellers would further add to his family’s legacy.

Zellers’ mother, Carla, was a junior on Scottsburg’s last basketball state title team, winning it all with the girls’ program coached by Donna Cheatham in 1989. His aunt, Renee Westmoreland, led the 1989 title team while setting numerous school records before being named IndyStar Miss Basketball that year. “It means a lot. I had family that played there, and they made history. To be able to do it here myself, it’s amazing,” Zellers said.