The season is over for Bishop Luers' James Blackmon Jr. after the sophomore guard suffered an ACL injury Saturday in a loss to Indianapolis Tech.

Blackmon Jr., the oldest son of Luers coach James Blackmon Sr., came down wrong on his left leg after going up for a blocked shot after running a player down from behind in the second quarter of the 73-51 defeat to Tech.

Despite sitting out the rest of the game, Blackmon Jr. didn't think the injury was that serious, but a visit to a doctor Monday proved otherwise. Although doctors don't know the extent of the injury, Blackmon Jr. said it will take him off the basketball court for 3-4 months and surgery is possible next week.

The Indiana recruit was averaging 25.1 points and 4.7 rebounds for the SAC regular-season champions.

"It's hard for me because I live, breathe and eat basketball," Blackmon Jr. said Monday. "It isn't going to set me back, but who said everything was going to be easy. I am just going to have to work hard and get back to where I was. I know I can come back stronger. I just have to work for it."

The 6-foot-2 Blackmon Jr. committed to play for the Hoosiers before his freshman season and averaged 20.8 points in his first varsity season. He has made a couple of appearances at the U.S. Junior Olympic U16 team training camp.

It is the first significant injury for Blackmon Jr.

"I am getting a lot of support from my teammates and friends," Blackmon Jr. said. "It helps a lot, just keeping my head up and knowing it's not the end of the world and everything's going to be alright. I just have to have a positive attitude."

Despite clinching their second straight SAC title with a 6-1 league record, the Knights have fallen to 12-6 by losing three of their past four games. Luers has fallen out of the Class 2A top 10, receiving enough honorable mention votes to put the Knights at No. 11. The sectionals will begin Feb. 28.

Fellow IU recruit sophomore Trey Lyles of Tech had 33 points and 18 rebounds in the win over the Knights.

gjones@jg.net