Center Grove’s Jalen Bundy, left, and Grant Long start the celebration as the clock ticks down to zero during Saturday’s sectional final against Martinsville.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
BLOOMINGTON
Center Grove did what they’ve been doing much of the year to opponents.
Stomping them out early.
That’s exactly what happened Saturday night, as the Class 4A No. 10 Trojans raced out to a quick start and cruised to an easy 71-30 win to claim the championship of the Bloomington North Sectional.
Center Grove (20-4) now advances to next Saturday’s regional at Southport, where it will play Johnson County foe Franklin.
This win certainly erases the bad memories of last year’s 43-41 sectional final loss to Bloomington North, but Center Grove coach Zach Hahn insisted last year’s defeat was not on their minds.
“Honestly, we don’t talk about it. This is a new team and a new group,” Hahn said. “Last year was disappointing and a heartbreaker, but these guys are focused on getting better every day.”
It was the second time this season the Trojans beat the Artesians, only this was worse than the 79-54 win back in December.
“You can never take anyone lightly,” Center Grove senior starter Joey Schmitz said. “Martinsville had nothing to lose in this game. We were the favorites and had to prove it.”
Point proven, as the game was really over in the first five minutes. But nobody told Center Grove that. The Trojans kept up the quick, pressure play as though they were down a bucket.
Center Grove went up 10-0 before ending the quarter with a 24-3 cushion. It only swelled from there to a comfortable 53-19 halftime lead.
“We have put together our best stretch defensively where we’re really starting to guard people,” Hahn said. “That’s what’s put us in a position (to be here).”
Hahn started to empty his bench in the third quarter, giving the Trojan reserves valuable playing time.
“I was really proud of our guys,” Hahn said. “One through 12 got to play, and one through 12 contributed. We have eight seniors. They are bringing the younger guys along and they’ve made it a great culture.”
The contest was not without its chippiness, as three technical fouls were called amid some chirping by both squads in the first half, but the game eventually settled down and order was restored.
Schmitz and fellow senior Jalen Bundy led the Trojans with 15 points each. Will Spellman added 10 points.
The list of plaudits for the Trojans this season seems endless. Not only was this their fifth sectional under Hahn and first since 2021, but they also secured their second straight year with 20 or more wins and the fourth 20-win season in Hahn’s now decade-long tenure at Center Grove.
It was also the Trojans’ 14th consecutive win.
Center Grove has not lost since Dec. 22, when it dropped a one-point overtime tilt against No. 1 Fishers. And except for a one-point win over Brownsburg, the Trojans have been steamrolling everyone their past nine games, winning by 11 or more points.
Moreover, and more importantly, Center Grove is on to the regional.
“We always have a goal,” Schmitz said. “This is the start of what we want to accomplish. We want to go farther, and that goal we have drives our determination and motivation to get wins like this.
“We kept the ball moving in the first half. We scored 53 points, which was pretty crazy, but our offense was efficient.”
Martinsville, which surprised everyone and ended a 16-game losing streak by toppling Bloomington South in the sectional semifinals, ended its season at 4-20.
“We’ll enjoy it for a couple of hours and start planning Sunday,” Hahn said. “A day or two rest, and then we will see what we can do.”
