Noah Griffith made over 40 percent of his 3-point shots from the corners during the 2017-18 varsity boys basketball season, and the Rochelle guard had an opportunity to shoot from his favorite spots on the floor when he and one other player battled for the final spot in the IHSA Class 3A State 3-Point Shootout in Peoria on Thursday.
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LASALLE — Noah Griffith made over 40 percent of his 3-point shots from the corners during the 2017-18 varsity boys basketball season, and the Rochelle guard had an opportunity to shoot from his favorite spots on the floor when he and one other player battled for the final spot in the IHSA Class 3A State 3-Point Shootout in Peoria on Thursday.
While three players had already punched tickets to the state shootout, Griffith needed to fire 10 more shots after finishing the sectional competition at LaSalle-Peru this past weekend tied for fourth place. Griffith made 9-of-15 shots during regulation, and the senior Hub needed at least four makes to qualify for the state championships after his opponent converted on only 3-of-10 corner shots.
It may have ended closer than he wanted, but Griffith put home 4-of-10 shots to win the tiebreaker and become the fourth player to advance out of the LaSalle-Peru sectional.
“I felt pretty confident since I usually shoot pretty well from the corners,” Griffith said. “I wasn’t too worried and the other kid went first so I felt more comfortable… It’s an honor and I always go out there and try to do my best. It’s an honor to make it there and I’m really excited to see what happens.”
Griffith shot roughly 43 percent from 3-point range this season, and the senior guard filled some big shoes after Rochelle lost guards Caleb Gould and Noah’s brother Landon Griffith last season. Griffith made at least six 3-pointers in a game twice this season, and he finished the season as Rochelle’s third-leading scorer with almost eight points per game.
“I’ve been shooting from different spots all the time and I feel like I’ve always had a pretty good shot,” Griffith said. “I developed it through the years with a lot of practice… I always wanted to better myself from each practice. I made it a goal this year to shoot over 40 percent and it happened.”
Griffith is the second Rochelle guard to reach the state 3-point championships in two years after Gould qualified last season. An All-Conference Honorable Mention by the Northern Illinois Big 12 this season, Griffith is just the second player to make the state shootout since Jason Harper in 2003.
“I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing and focus on the rim,” Griffith said.
