(La Porte County, IN) - La Lumiere before a packed home crowd jumped out to a big lead and cruised to a 93-58 victory against Michigan City in boys’ high school basketball on Tuesday, December 9.
Devin Cleveland, a 6’3” junior transfer student from Chicago, started the scoring for the nationally ranked Lakers by driving to the rim for a lay-up. Following another Lakers bucket, the Wolves cut the lead to one on a three point shot from senior guard Brian Jackson.
However, the Lakers quickly extended the lead to nine points with help from three point buckets by seniors Jonathan Sanderson, a 6’3” guard from Ann Arbor, Michigan and 6’8” forward Rivers Knight of Durham, North Carolina.
The Wolves were down by eight points before Sanderson sank a three point shot to trigger another scoring burst that included a dunk from 7’0” center Gan Solongo, a senior transfer student from Mongolia.
Sanderson and Solongo are committed to play next season for the University of Notre Dame. Knight has signed to play at Purdue University.
Michigan City trailing by 17 points began the second quarter with 6’5” senior Terrance McCray grabbing an offensive rebound and with his feet still off the floor slamming the ball through the rim.
Two three point shots from Cleveland triggered another scoring streak by the Lakers that included Cleveland grabbing a missed dunk from Michigan City and taking the ball full court for a lay-up.
The Lakers led 48-25 at halftime. La Lumiere improved to 8-0 while Michigan City dropped to 1-2.
Solongo and Cleveland finished with 18 points and 16 points respectively while Peyton Kemp, a 6’2” guard from the Detroit area, contributed 15 points for the Lakers.
Wolves Head Coach Larry Upshaw said the game against a nationally ranked opponent was a chance for his players to see how they measure up against better competition and learn what they need to work on to elevate their level of play.
“It’s an experience. It’s good for the kids,” he said.
La Porte County resident Jack Arnett, who was among the people in the stands, said he’s been to most of the Lakers games this season.
“They’re really good. Fun to watch,” he said.
