North Oldham basketball, behind freshman sharpshooter, reaches Eighth Region final
NEW CASTLE — Freshman Austin Sears scored 21 points, including 15 in the second half, to lead the North Oldham High School boys basketball team to a 48-45 win over Walton-Verona in Monday's semifinals of the Eighth Region Tournament at Henry County.
Gray Schmittel sank two free throws with 6.5 seconds left to give the Mustangs a 48-45 lead.
Walton-Verona got a final shot to tie, but Aaron Gutman's 3-point try at the buzzer was short.
North Oldham (22-7) improved to 14-1 over its past 15 games, the only loss coming to No. 1-ranked St. Xavier. The Mustangs are in the Eighth Region final for the first time since 2022 and will face the South Oldham-Spencer County winner at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Gutman scored 20 points to lead Walton-Verona (21-13).
This story will be updated.
WALTON 6 12 14 13 – 45
NORTH 15 6 17 10 – 48
Walton-Verona (21-13) – Aidan Kerns 10, Adam Gutman 9, Jonathan Strunk 6, Aaron Gutman 20.
North Oldham (22-7) – Austin Sears 21, Gray Schmittel 4, Brooks Cargould 7, August Soule 3, Thomas Gregg 4, Colin Daniels 9.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA basketball: North Oldham tops Walton-Verona in 8th Region semi
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