The Reporter Times

The record may not have been what he wanted, but Martinsville High School boys’ basketball coach Tim Wolf considers this season a good one, he said during Thursday evening’s season-ending banquet.

The Artesians finished 8-13 overall and 3-3 in the Mid-State Conference. Three of those losses came in overtime to Decatur Central, Bloomington North and Whiteland and five came by five points or less.

“It’s a great group of student-athletes,” he said in summarizing the basketball team and cheerleading squad’s contributions.

Martinsville is expected to return 22 players from the varsity and junior varsity teams from this season.

The Artesians had back-to-back convincing wins against conference opponents Franklin and Mooresville, setting up the final conference game of the season against Whiteland. A win against the Warriors would have given Martinsville its first winning conference record since joining before the 2006-07 season.

Instead, the 10-point overtime loss was the second loss in a string of five that ultimately ended the Artesians’ season in the sectional semi-finals against Mooresville.

After losing three of its first four games, Martinsville went on a three-game winning streak, starting at Center Grove and continuing at home against Eastern Greene and Indian Creek.

Wolf also spent time honoring the three senior basketball players — Anthony Spina, Dylan Smith and Derek McCrary.

“I thought we had the two best guards in the conference,” he said of his backcourt duo of Spina and Smith.

The three seniors had their hands full after the ceremony with each earning several awards.

Spina won the Lil’ Arties, free throw percentage, steals and assists awards; Smith won the John Wooden, 3-point shooting and most points awards; and McCrary won the Ryan Fritsche award for the second year in a row as well as the rebounding award.

Martinsville averaged 57.1 points while giving up almost 60 during the season. The offensive average was the third-highest in the conference, behind Decatur Central and Plainfield. The Artesians also had the toughest schedule in the conference, according to Jeff Sagarin’s ratings.