Harrison boys basketball capture IU Health Hoops Classic Championship

LAFAYETTE — Harrison senior forward Jeffrey Williams was a rotational player last season behind a deep rotation of seniors that rarely left the floor.

He picked up the bread crumbs left from last season's leading scorers Ben Henderson, Christopher Lucas, Alex Mithoefer and performed his role off the bench to the best of his ability.

Now it's the 6-foot-5 Williams' turn to show he can be as impactful a player and show that Harrison isn't in a rebuilding process, but rather reloading.

Williams, along with junior Malachi King, unloaded during an 84-61 win over West Lafayette in the IU Health Hoops Classic Championship at Lafayette Jeff Saturday.

Williams scored a career high 33 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from 3-point range, 13-16 from the floor with nine rebounds.

"My teammates were able to find me open," Williams said. "They were able to find me open, set them screens and get them open and I was able to play with my team and get my rhythm."

King was awarded the IU Health Hoops Classic Most Valuable Player award after scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds for Harrison (3-0).

Junior point guard Ray Gibson added 12 points for the Raiders who outplayed the Red Devils from the opening whistle.

Harrison outrebounded West Lafayette 40-31 and were more physical in the paint despite the presence of Red Devils' 6-foot-10 junior center Kevo St. Hilaire.

"That's what our coaches have been telling us for the entire season," King said. "We have to throw the first punch. We've struggled with it a little but coming down here when it matters the most was a great feeling, throwing the first punch."

West Lafayette (3-1) struggled to keep pace with Harrison's ball rotation and failed to create disfunction within the Raiders' passing lanes.

The Red Devils tried relying on shooting 3-pointers to match the Raiders offensive output, but dug themselves into a bigger hole instead.

West Lafayette shot 8-of-29 from 3-point range. More than half of the Red Devils' attempted shots took place from beyond the arc.

Red Devils coach Jacob VanArsdel believes his team lacked "toughness" against Harrison.

"They were the tougher team," VanArsdel said. "They crashed the glass, we didn't block out, we didn't execute the game plan and you're going to get beat when that happens."

Williams and King were named to the IU Health Hoops Classic all tournament team.

Here's a look at the top 10 players from the tournament and recap of three other games that took place on featuring Lafayette Jeff, Rensselaer Central, Central Catholic, Benton Central, McCutcheon and Twin Lakes.

2023 IU Health Hoops Classic All Tourney Team

• Malachi King - Harrison (MVP)

• Jeffrey Williams - Harrison

• Alonzo Clawson-Smith - Lafayette Jeff

• Ben Werth - West Lafayette

• Ray Clayton - Central Catholic

• Jamison Ousley - Twin Lakes

• Ryan Foster - Benton Central

Clawson-Smith goes off against Rensselaer Central

Lafayette Jeff junior point guard Alonzo Clawson-Smith had an entire summer to himself to craft his body and improve his overall game.

After four months of offseason training, the Bronchos' captain has turned into one of the most complete players in the Greater Lafayette Area.

Clawson-Smith turned in an eye-popping performance using intense ball pressure and his athleticism to bluster any offensive rhythm Rensselaer Central tried to establish.

Clawson-Smith scored 18 points including 13 steals and six assists and Lafayette Jeff routed Rensselaer Central 66-28 in the IU Health Hoops Classic third place game.

"Our coaches just said stay in the passing lanes," Clawson-Smith said. "That's what we've worked on in practice. Coming out of halftime they said stay in the passing lanes and I just listened to them."

But not even Clawson-Smith had any clue how much damage he was causing, accounting for eight of his 13 steals in the first half. His body control and ability to hang in mid-air to score around the basket was on display shooting 8 of 14 from the floor.

"It really started with film," Clawson-Smith said. "We knew that (Rensselaer Central guard Corbin Matthew) wanted to go left. We jumped the spin move which really helped."

Junior Devion Penny scored 17 points on 7-11 shooting and senior Ah'keem Wilson added 12 points including 2-3 from 3-point range.

Mathew scored 16 points including 11-11 from the free throw line but shot 2-11 from the floor.

Central Catholic rallies after losing starter

Central Catholic looked in disarray after starting senior guard Alex Hardebeck crumbled to the floor agony eight seconds into the second quarter.

Hardebeck, a beloved captain known for his wisdom and calm demeanor ran baseline and immediately grabbed at his ankle.

After being flustered and allowing Benton Central to lead at halftime, the Knights found their resolve.

Senior Albert Schwartz was one of three Central Catholic players to score nine points and the Knights fended off Benton Central 50-43.

Junior Bobby Metzger and sophomore Mike Stapleton matched Schwartz's point total. Metzger was among three players who grabbed six rebounds along with senior Bryce McCammon who added eight points. McCammon's 8-point total duplicated by junior Ray Clayton.

"We've got a great bench," Metzger said. "When one person goes down, two people come up. It's great to have a great team that's supporting each other."

Stapleton came on after the injury to Hardebeck and went 3-4 from beyond the arc.

Stapleton's impact was unexpected given how he wasn't listed on the IU Health Hoops Classic roster at first.

"If (coach Drake Barrett) puts me out there then you might as well shoot it you know," Stapleton said. "I'm always ready to play. I was glad to have (Metzger) out there helping me know where I needed to be and what to do. I was at the spot the right time."

Schwartz's presence affected Benton Central leading scorer Hunter Sisson. Sisson fouled out with Central Catholic leading 44-43 and 1:55 left in the game.

"It was all a matter of me keeping my fouls down lower than him," Schwartz said. "I knew he was going to foul out because he was being too aggressive. The refs started catching on." ,

Twin Lakes wins seventh place game

Twin Lakes seniors Jamison Ousley and Gavin Businger ignited Twin Lakes during the first consolation game of the IU Health Hoops Classic against McCutcheon.

Businger led the game with 17 points on 5-8 shooting while Ousley added 11 points to help Twin Lakes (2-3) stave off McCutcheon 44-39.

McCutcheon freshman Brody Baker led the Mavericks with 13 points on 5-8 shooting. Senior Parker Sorrells and sophomore Isaac Richardson had nine points for McCutcheon (0-4)

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Harrison boys basketball wins 2023 IU Health Hoops Classic