Paul Shepherd

Special for IndyStar

BROWNSBURG – Connor Lucas ran to both ends of the court after Brownsburg’s 65-50 win Friday over Westfield, waving his arms up and down to rouse the already fired-up crowd. The 6-2 senior guard was then mobbed by his teammates at midcourt, with the celebration spilling into the locker room.

The Class 4A No. 4 Bulldogs had reason to be excited. Lucas was unstoppable down the stretch, scoring 25 of his career high 31 points over the game’s final 8 minutes, 4 seconds. He hit seven 3-pointers in that span including six straight without a miss.

“I didn’t think I was going to miss at all,” Lucas said. “It was just that mindset that you have to keep shooting to make them. That’s what I thought.”

No. 9 Westfield kept the game close throughout three quarters behind the play of Braden Smith, one of the state’s top sophomore players. The crafty 5-10 guard scored 10 of the Shamrocks’ 18 field goals and finished with a team-high 26 points.

Westfield (9-3) had no answers for Lucas in the fourth quarter. His run began with Brownsburg (13-1) up 33-30 with four seconds left in the third. He pulled up from the corner and sank a 3 that put the crowd on its feet.

Lucas was unconscious from there. He drained a 3 with 6:50 left. Then another off a pass from Quentin Bragg. Another Lucas 3 on a kick-out from Pierce Thomas made it 47-32 Brownsburg with 4:45 left. Just over a minute later, he hit another. His next came after he somehow corralled an errant pass and immediately fired, draining the shot from the corner.

“I’ve not ever seen a kid in high school get going like that,” said Brownsburg coach Steve Lynch. “What I really liked about it was our guys were really excited to get him the basketball. Once he got going, that’s all they wanted to do was throw him the ball.”

There was 2:30 left in the game and the Bulldogs had a comfortable lead when Lucas finally missed, but he was far from finished. Two plays later, he was driving for a bucket. Then it was another pull-up 3 with 1:15 left and Lucas holding up his arms, acknowledging the manic crowd. He finished with a fast-break layup off another Thomas pass. The only thing stopping Lucas was the clock.

“I feel like, if I get hot, I’m one of the best shooters in the state,” Lucas said. “My teammates try to keep me going. I think we’re tough to beat.”

His performance — nine 3-pointers in total — overshadowed a solid night by Thomas, who had 13 points through three quarters, and Westfield’s Smith, who relentlessly maneuvered through the Brownsburg defense.

Lucas has helped carry the Bulldogs, who have won nine straight despite missing injured leading scorer Malek Edmonds for much of that stretch. He entered the game averaging 13.3 points and was coming off a 25-point game against Fishers.

Lucas, who’s scored in double figures in all but two games this year, said his basketball plans beyond high school remain open.

“I don’t know if I’m going to play basketball yet,” he said. “I’m just looking for an offer.”

BROWNSBURG 65, WESTFIELD 50

Westfield 14 6 10 20 - 50

Brownsburg 15 7 14 29 - 65

Westfield (9-3) – Smith 10 2-4 26, Haffner 4 0-0 10, Welch 0 0-0 0, DePasquale 2 4-8 8, Simons 0 0-0 0, Penley 0 1-2 1, Byrer 0 0-0 0, Patchett 1 0-0 3, Vishnumolakala 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 7-14 50.

Brownsburg (13-1) – Lucas 11 0-0 31, Lackey 2 0-0 4, Lacey 3 1-2 7, Bragg 3 0-0 6, Thomas 5 0-0 13, Diallo 0 0-0 0, McGowan 2 0-1 4, Scholz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26 1-3 65.

3-pointers: Westfield 7 (Smith 4, Haffner 2, Patchett 1); Brownsburg 12 (Lucas 9, Thomas 3).