KNIGHTSTOWN — Draped in an unfamiliar shade of red, former Mt. Vernon guard Ariana Sandefur received a glimpse of her future.
Sporting a color similar to that of her soon-to-be college team (Indiana University Southeast), Sandefur and Greenfield-Central alum Tate Hall completed their final high school obligations Friday in the 11th Annual Hoosiers Reunion Classic.
Played on the same court as seen in the film “Hoosiers,” Sandefur and Hall joined approximately 50 of the state’s top basketball players from the Class of 2016 in a girls-boys doubleheader.
Sandefur aided the Hickory Huskers with four rebounds as they topped the Terhune Tigers 122-113.
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And she looked healthy, too.
After battling an injury for nine weeks of the Marauders’ regular season, Sandefur appeared to be back to normal. She scored 20 points or more, twice, against Richmond and Delta after having missed 14 games because of her injury.
“It’s always nice to have Mt. Vernon (black and gold) on your chest, but it’s a chapter that’s closed now,” Sandefur said. “This was a really cool experience.”
Hall, who will attend the University of Indianapolis, chipped in 19 points, four rebounds and four assists as his Hickory Husker team won 154-134.
He finished with four 3-pointers in the win and also played on the same team as Indiana’s Mr. Basketball — University of Virginia signee Kyle Guy.
Guy led all scorers in front of a packed house of approximately 665 with 24 points.
Sandefur got a taste of the best, too, matching up against Princeton’s Jackie Young — the state’s all-time leading scorer and 2016 Miss Basketball award winner.
In the girls game, both teams came out firing — with minimal defense — as the score was knotted at 32-all after the first 10-minute quarter.
Sandefur grabbed two rebounds in the first half as Hickory led 60-52.
Young led all scorers with 38 points.
Mt. Vernon teammate Sydney Shelton, who averaged 23.5 points per game last season, was an honorary player Friday and sat on the Huskers’ bench. She will play at Butler University next year.
In the second game, Hall drained two 3-pointers and finished with eight points, three rebounds and two assists in the opening half as Hickory led 64-59.
He also led the Cougars in scoring (18.3 points per game) and rebounding (7.9 rebounds per game) last season while shooting 49 percent from the field. He also knocked down a team-high 42 3-pointers.
He was named Daily Reporter Player of the Year, as well, and ended his career as the fourth all-time leading scorer in Greenfield-Central history (1,315 points).
Sandefur averaged 8.3 points per game this season for Mt. Vernon, which was one win away from a sectional title. Completely healthy in 2015, the sharp-shooting guard scored 12.3 points per game and made 55 3-point field goals.
But Sandefur is just happy to be playing again.
“My ankle is fine now, and I’m all good to go,” Sandefur said.
Indiana University Southeast (New Albany) finished 15-15 last year and 11-7 in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Grenadiers lost just two seniors.
Hall, a 6-foot-6 wing, should have a shot at playing time for the University of Indianapolis as the Greyhounds return just seven players from last season’s 21-8 squad.
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Game 1
Game 2
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