(Travis Grayson pictured in the spring of 2021)

 

In a high-profile game at Grace College's Champions of Character Classic, No. 3 Homestead faced an undefeated Chesterton team. The game stayed within three possessions the entire game before the Trojans emerged victoriously. 

 

The contested featured 2022 Mr. Basketball frontrunner Fletcher Loyer against Chesterton's Travis Grayson, but early on, it was the supporting cast for each team that shined. The Leeper brothers - Andrew and Grant - blocked five shots in the opening frame. For the Trojans, junior guard Owen Guest knocked down two threes.

 

The second quarter saw Grayson and Loyer take over. Grayson, a slashing point guard, lived in the teeth of the Homestead defense. After a scoreless first, the senior guard scored 11 points to push Chesterton to the lead. 

 

Loyer took things into his hands for Homestead. The Purdue signee scored all nine of Homestead's second-period points. However, it was not enough as Chesterton held a 28-20 lead at halftime.

 

The Spartans were ready to fight coming out of the locker. Loyer slashed to the basket on the half's opening possession before Homestead scored on three consecutive sets. Grant Leeper scored one of those buckets. He continued to play well for Homestead as a finisher, rebounder, and shot blocker.

 

Kyron Kaopuiki's shooting sparked the Homestead offense in the third as well. He buried two three-pointers in the period to open up the lane. After scoring 20 first-half points, the Spartans tallied 20 in the third stanza. 

 

Late in the third, Loyer created a steal then threw it down to Leeper for a transition basket. That gave Homestead its first lead since the first quarter at 38-37.

 

Grayson saved his heroics for the final two minutes of the third. First, he scored on a driving layup. Then after multiple Chesterton misses, he swiped the ball from Andrew Leeper and fired a three as the buzzer sounded. It splashed through the net to give Chesterton a 42-40 lead heading to the fourth.

 

The final period saw four ties and a few lead changes. Loyer lived at the free-throw line in the fourth for Homestead as he went seven of eight from the charity stripe. Overall, he went 13 of 15 from the line on his way to a game-high 30 points.

 

With the game tied at 47, Chris Mullen grabbed a defensive rebound and found Grayson. But, before the defense set, Grayson nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key. 

 

Chesterton missed critical free throws to leave the door open for Homestead down the stretch. But the Spartans could not cash in, either. 

 

After another Chesterton missed free throw, Loyer shot a contested three with 25 seconds left. He is known for hitting off-balanced and contested shots, but this potential game-tying shot did not fall. That was Homestead's final opportunity.

 

Chesterton won 58-53 behind 23 points from Grayson. He also recorded three assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

 

Mullen added nine points and seven rebounds in the win. Tyler Parrish recorded seven, while Carson Parrish and Owen Guest each scored six for the Trojans. Sean Kasper scored five.

 

Loyer tallied five rebounds and three assists to go with his 30 points. Grant Leeper finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. Andrew Leeper and Kaopuiki each scored six. Andrew also had seven rebounds and four blocks. 

 

Chesterton improved to 5-0, while Homestead dropped to 6-2. It was Homestead's first loss to an Indiana team. The Spartans lost to Kettering Alter from Ohio earlier in the year.