(Quimari Peterson led West Side to the win)

 

Gary West Side is a different team since the postseason began. Injuries plagued the Cougars late in the season, but now they are clicking on all cylinders. West Side wasted no time in dispatching Elkhart in the second game at the Michigan City regional.

 

Elkhart turned the ball over on the opening possession, and Quimari Peterson capitalized on the other end with a three-pointer. Throughout the game, that was a recurring theme. West Side did a great job of forcing turnovers and converting them into points.

 

The Lions grabbed a 4-3 lead after buckets from Malachi Emmons and Donovan Johnson. West Side went through 2022 power forward Jalen Washington to take the lead back. He scored seven points in the first quarter before picking up two fouls. Peterson and Chrishawn Christmas made sure West Side did not miss a beat with Washington on the bench. In the opening period, Peterson knocked down three triples.

 

By the end of the first quarter, West Side led 22-10. Elkhart’s Cam’ron Daniels was productive getting into the West Side defense and getting to the line, but the rest of the Lions did not have the same success.

 

Christmas started the second-quarter scoring with a big dunk. He threw down a few dunks in the first half. He nearly took the rim off a couple of times. The senior wing also made a defensive impact. His overall play helped the Cougars to a 41-23 halftime lead.

 

Things did not get better for Elkhart in the second. Donovan Johnson found a bit of an offensive rhythm, but West Side shut down the rest of the Lions. Billy Muldrew gave West Side additional support slashing to the basket. He finished with ten points.

 

For the entire second half, West Side put it in cruise control. Chris Buggs was able to get Peterson, Washington, and Christmas rest. That could be a major benefit as teams playing in the second morning game face a shorter turnaround.

 

West Side won 68-34.

 

Peterson finished with 18 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Christmas added 11 points, four assists, and four steals. Muldrew recorded ten points and five rebounds. In only eight minutes, Washington scored nine points. Parion Roberson tallied seven points and three assists.

 

Johnson led Elkhart with 15 points. Daniels finished with nine points. Elkhart ends the season 14-12.

 

West Side plays South Bend Riley for the Michigan City regional title tonight.