Hobart Brickies fell to Merrillville Pirates 62–40 in a varsity boys basketball non‑conference game, unable to recover after the Pirates seized control in the middle quarters.
The matchup was played Feb. 21 at Hobart High School.
Hobart struggled to keep pace with Merrillville after the Pirates took control in the middle quarters and limited the Brickies’ scoring options. Ryan Basham carried Hobart with 20 points, providing the team’s most consistent offense, while Paxson Hicko added eight. The Brickies shot just 32 percent from the field and struggled to match the Pirates’ efficiency, as Merrillville hit 54% of its attempts and controlled the boards with a 30–23 rebounding edge. The Brickies forced only four steals compared to the Pirates’ 10, underscoring the gap in defensive impact as Hobart slipped to another tough loss.
Hobart begins the playoffs Friday, March 6, with a neutral-site battle against Valparaiso at 6 p.m. in Sectional 2 of the IHSAA Boys State Basketball 4A Tournament at Chesterton.
The Brickies looks to build on its Feb. 10 home win over Valparaiso, a 65–54 non‑conference victory, as the Brickies aim to extend their playoff run.
