The La Porte High School boys basketball team shook off back to back losses to Lake Central with a convincing 30 point win at Lowell on Tuesday night.

 

Coach Jordan Heckard’s game plan was to speed the methodical Red Devils up. The Slicers did just that with a swarming, trapping, full court defense. La Porte scored the game’s first 12 points and held Lowell scoreless until the 3:15 mark of the first quarter. The downside of this hyper aggressive defense was foul trouble for starting guards Ja’Meriyon Cross and Malik Corley who were both whistled for two first quarter fouls and exited the game.

 

Lowell outscored the Slicers 5-2 for the remainder of the quarter and the Slicer lead was cut to 14-5 after one period. The Red Devils drew to within five points of La Porte at 21-16 in the second quarter when Coach Heckard reinserted Cross and Corley. The Slicers immediately went on a second 12-0 run and finished the first half up 36-18. Corley had 10 points at the half, followed by Cross and Kyle Kirkham with 8 each.

 

La Porte outscored the Red Devils 15-11 in the third to lead 51-29 at the break, then doubled Lowell 14-7 in the fourth quarter to make the final 66-36.

Corley finished the game with 17 points and was named the Salisbury and Spence Edward Jones player of the game. Kirkham finished with 12 and Cross 11. Cross’ free throw early in the fourth quarter was the only point scored by the double digit trio after the third quarter. RJ Anglin had 7 points, Rylan Kieszkowski 6, Brennan Balka had 5 with Nic Spence and Dylan Salisbury at 4 each.

Defense was the name of the game as the Slicer forced Lowell into over 20 turnovers with just as many deflections.

 

Lowell was led by Zachary Wunsch with 11 points. The Red Devil fall to 2-10 on the season, the Slicers improved to 9-4. La Porte will host conference foe and 2022 4A state runnerup Chesterton on Friday night at Slicer gym. JV tipoff is 5:30, Varsity at 7:00. The Varsity game, as always, will be broadcast on WCOE 96.7 pre-game at approximately 6:45

 

JV TEAM EVENS RECORD AT 6-6 WITH 46-36 WIN

 

Javelle Broome led Matt Miller’s JV team to a 46-36 win at Lowell with 13 points. La Porte led at each quarter stop. Freshman Sawyer Tonagel had 8 points, Kevin Konieczny and Gage Raymond had 7 each.

 

Vann Warner chipped in 6 while Eli Taylor and Mike Montoya had 2 points each. Jayden Ruiz hit a free throw.

 

Photos courtesy of Susan Anglin