(Travis Grayson via Mr. Hokanson/Chesterton Athletics)

 

As the regular season winds down, familiar non-conference foes Chesterton and Munster faced off. On Friday night, Chesterton defeated Portage, while Munster lost to a top-ten Gary West Side team. 

 

With Chesterton and Munster each giving up fewer than 46 points per game, it figured to be a defensive battle. That was not the case early on as the Mustangs sprinted out of the gates. After two paint scores from senior Luka Balac, Munster rattled off three three-pointers - two by Clayton Bubash and one by Bryce Schaum. Before the fans were settled in their seats, the Mustangs led 15-6. 

 

It did not take long for Chesterton's defense to turn the tables. Travis Grayson and Chris Mullen were able to create steals which led to Chesterton buckets. Heading to the second, Munster only led by five points.

 

In the second period, there was a lid on the basket for Munster. On the other end, Chesterton contested shots then turned the Munster misses into transition points. Grayson continued to push the pace, and Tyler Vanderwoude finished in the paint time after time. With 1:23 left in the half, Chesterton's run stretched to 22-0 after Luke Lombardini splashed a three. Nearly seven minutes into the second, Munster finally scored as Schaum made a corner three from a feed by David Cundiff.

 

Leading by ten at the break, Chesterton slowed the game down. Charlie Eaton and Lombardini made threes in the third quarter to keep Chesterton's comfortable lead. After three, the Trojans led 36-24.

 

Facing a major deficit, Munster increased its defensive pressure. In the fourth, the Mustangs began to defend full court and look for trapping opportunities. Chesterton found themselves in trouble spots throughout the quarter but found a way out of most of them. The Trojans only committed three turnovers with Munster applying great defensive pressure. With the Mustangs extending themselves, Vanderwoude picked up seven fourth-quarter points around the basket for Chesterton. 

 

With the 49-34 victory, Chesterton moved to 16-3. The Trojans face an end of the season gauntlet with away games against Hammond, Valpo, and Gary West Side remaining. Munster drops to 14-5.

 

Vanderwoude led Chesterton with 16 points. Grayson went two of two from deep to finish with 14 points and three steals. Eaton collected ten points and six rebounds; Mullen tallied three points, eight rebounds, and three assists; Lombardini added six points.

 

Balac finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Schaum connected on three triples for nine points and four rebounds; Bubash added eight points and four rebounds.