Pike Erases 14-Point Deficit, Tops Plainfield 56-53; Advances to Face Brownsburg

Ian Macon sparked a second-half surge, scoring eight of his 14 points as No. 3 Pike erased a 14-point deficit to top No. 5 Plainfield 56-53 in the Sectional 11 semifinal at Plainfield before a sellout crowd, punching a ticket to face Brownsburg in the sectional final.

Pike’s comeback relied on balanced scoring and late-game composure despite poor perimeter shooting. Landon Lampley, a sophomore, finished with 14 points and went 6-for-7 from the free-throw line, while a player listed as Miller added 10 points, five steals and four rebounds. The Indians made just 2-of-18 from three-point range but converted 14-of-27 at the free-throw line to close out the win.

Plainfield was led by Smith, who finished his high school career with 23 points and nine rebounds, and Harper Baker-Lands, who added 14 points. The Quakers’ 19 turnovers and 5-of-11 free-throw shooting undermined their early advantage and contributed to the late collapse that allowed Pike to rally from the double-digit hole.

Pike coach Jeff Teague credited Macon’s lift off the bench and the team’s resolve after the game: "Ian Macon, man. He came in and made things happen. But (the whole team) just played with energy and effort. They didn’t want to go home." Macon’s second-half spark came at the decisive stretch when Pike chipped away at Plainfield’s lead and finished the game ahead by three.

Across the bracket, Brownsburg survived a dramatic 74-73 win over Ben Davis in the other Sectional 11 semifinal. Ben Davis’ JaShawn Ladd hit a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one, but Brownsburg’s Branden Sharpe was fouled on the inbound with 0.4 seconds left, sank both free throws, and Ben Davis was assessed a technical foul that sealed the final margin. Ben Davis entered the game with a 15-7 record.

Pike will now meet Brownsburg in the Sectional 11 final after rallying past a higher-ranked Plainfield and overcoming a 14-point deficit. The win advances a Pike team that leaned on Macon’s second-half scoring, Lampley’s free-throw reliability and a disruptive performance from Miller to a matchup with a Brownsburg squad that closed Ben Davis by 1 in a dramatic finish.