Leggett's 18 Lifts Blackford to 49-39 Class 2A Sectional 40 Title

Amarian Leggett scored 18 points and delivered a pivotal late steal-and-one as Blackford pulled away to a 49-39 victory over Wapahani in the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 40 final at Eastbrook High School. Blackford (20-6) defeated Wapahani 49-39 to win the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 40 championship on Saturday night at Eastbrook High School, a result that earned the Bruins their 13th sectional crown and advanced the Bruins into the regional round to face Lapel.

The finish turned on a three-minute stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters. Carter Bell cut Blackford’s lead to four with a 3-pointer off a Camden Bell assist, and Mason Kitterman immediately answered with a turning-point triple in front of the Bruin student section on a feed from Mason McFeely. Leggett then stole the inbounds, finished a layup while being fouled and converted the free throw to push Blackford to a 35-25 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, a sequence that shifted control firmly to the Bruins.

Leggett (18 points) and Kitterman (10 points) carried the offensive load for Blackford. Leggett, the Class 2A scoring leader at 27.4 points per game, battled foul trouble early, picking up three quick fouls and sitting for 1 minute, 30 seconds, the longest absence of his season; Blackford did not waver in his absence. Wapahani’s Camden Bell and Eli Andrews, despite struggling from long distance, outscored the top two Bruins 31-28 as the Raiders relied on their senior leaders to keep pace.

Role players made the difference down the stretch. Reggie Duran, Eli Petro, Dillon and McFeely each chipped in between four and six points as they outpointed the remaining Raiders 21-8, a bench surge that coach Aaron Daniels cited as proof of the team’s growth. Daniels said, “If you tell me Leggett scores 10 points last night and then sits 1:30 tonight, and we win, that just shows the growth we’ve had.” He added more broadly, “When you get into coaching, this is what you dream about. And to be able to do it in my second year … You have to have great kids. And we have the best kids.”

Wapahani entered the final as a three-time defending sectional champion and had beaten Burris 68-34 in Friday’s semifinal to reach the title game; the semifinal win left the Raiders 13-10 heading into the final and 13-11 after the loss. The defeat ended the high school careers of seniors Camden Bell and Eli Andrews, who combined for 31 points in the final. Kitterman, reflecting on the moment after his key triples, said, “Awesome. That’s the only word I can think of right now. Just awesome.”

After defeating the Raiders 49-39 for the program’s 13th sectional title, the Bruins (20-6) cut down the nets. When they looked behind them, a sea of black surrounded the basket as their fans applauded and cheered them on. Blackford now turns toward the regional round and a matchup with Lapel, carrying momentum from a balanced scoring effort and a first sectional championship for Daniels in his second season.