Michael Eleftheri paces Boone to boys hoops sectional title

PORTER TWP. | For three quarters Saturday, Boone Grove looked like a team carrying a heavy burden of expectations.

In the fourth quarter, it looked like a team ready to fulfill those expectations.

Up just four early in the final period, the Wolves went on a 17-2 run to punctuate a 55-36 victory over Culver Community in the Class 2A Boone Grove Sectional championship.

"They've been tabbed as the guys who hadn't lived up to their potential," coach Matt McKay said of his large senior class. "The potential they had was to be fine young men and in my eyes, they realized that a year ago. As a coach, you never get tired of cutting down the nets. But these guys have worked so hard. I'm extremely happy for them."

Steady-handed Michael Eleftheri guided the Wolves (19-4) throughout, pouring in 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

"It's a big weight off our shoulders," he said. "If we don't win this game, it's four years without anything and we didn't want to go through that. But I wasn't nervous. I just came in expecting as much as our team could give. This was our game to win, our game to have the title. It's more emotional than I could've ever imagined."

Eleftheri drilled six 3-pointers and handed out five assists.

"He's come up big time and time again for us," McKay said. "Phenomenal. What a great way to go out in his last game at Boone Grove."

After sitting most of the first half with two fouls, Ryan Reynolds scored nine of his 11 points in the third quarter, helping the Wolves weather a rally that saw the Cavaliers (9-12) twice draw within a point.

Jake Wright held Zoe Bauer, who dropped 30 on North Judson the night before, to 10 points on just 4-of-16 shooting. Wright also scored 10 points.

"Since I've started varsity, I've always been put on the hardest guys because of my speed and length," he said. "It's a challenge that gets me up for the game. I wanted to get it done. We've been waiting for this for so long. Once we got rolling, there was no looking back."

Dan Block nabbed seven boards for Boone, which advances to next Saturday's North Judson Regional.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Class 2A Boone Grove Sectional

Championship Game

Boone Grove 55, Culver Community 36

Michael Eleftheri scored 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting.