The La Porte Slicer boys' basketball team dug themselves a 15-3 first-quarter hole and fought hard to get back in the game, but could not get over the hump in Friday night’s 51-41 loss to Chesterton.

 

Chesterton, last year’s 4A state runner-up whose only loss came in the state championship game, entered Friday’s game with a 7-4 record this season. Their 4 losses this year have come at the hands of Brownsburg, Fort Wayne Blackhawk, Lawrence Central, and Norwell who have a combined 49-9 record this season. The Trojans return several players from last year’s team.

 

After the rough start, the Slicers went toe to toe with the talented Trojans. RJ Anglin, who was named the Salisbury and Spence player of the game, came off the bench and scored 8 of La Porte’s 12 second-quarter points. The halftime score was Chesterton 28 LP 15.

 

Chesterton outscored the Slicers 10-9 in the third quarter to lead 38-24 heading into the fourth period.

The Slicers came out pressing in the fourth quarter. Malik Corley scored all 8 of his points in the final period helping the Slicers cut the Trojan lead to 6 with 3:30 left in the game. Chesterton broke the Slicer pressure with great passing for two Justin Sims layups to move the lead back to 10. With 1:50 remaining and La Porte trailing by 8 Tyler Parrish hit a tough corner three-pointer giving the Trojans an insurmountable 11-point lead.

 

Anglin and Corley led the Slicers with 8 points each. Ja’Meriyon Cross chipped in 7, Tommy Samuelson and Rylan Kieszkowski 6 each. Dylan Salisbury and Kyle Kirkham both hit three-pointers. Chesterton’s Parrish led all scorers with 18 points with Sims adding 13.

LP falls to 9-5 on the year and they are 0-2 in the Duneland Conference.

 

Slicer gym was alive with an estimated 3000 people in attendance. The Purdue University pep band joined the LPHS pep band. Purdue’s Golden Girl and Girl in Black baton twirlers plus the Slicer Dance Team performed at half-time. The LPHS mixed choir sang the national anthem.

SLICER JV TEAM PULLS AWAY IN THE 4 TH QUARTER FOR A 44-34 WIN

Matt Miller’s junior varsity team played their best game of the year outscoring Chesterton 19-9 in the final quarter on their way to an impressive 44-34 win.

Eli Taylor scored 18 points to lead the way, while Javelle Broome and Vann Warner both had 10. The JV team record improved to 7-6 on the year, they are 1-1 in the DAC.

The varsity travels to Michigan City next Friday night to play a boys/girls doubleheader. The girls' game will start at 5:30 with the boys' game scheduled at 7:00. WCOE 96.7 will broadcast the boys' game.

 

Photos courtesy of Susan Anglin.