(Chesteron fans packed Michigan City)

 

Chesterton is undefeated but often finds itself trailing at the half. That was the case in the morning against South Bend Adams and Saturday night against Penn at the 4A Michigan City regional. But, once again, Travis Grayson led the Trojans to an impressive second half to capture Chesterton’s first regional title.

 

 

Penn star Markus Burton scored on the first possession, but then the Chesterton defense asserted itself. Justin Sims began the Chesterton scoring with a bucket plus the foul. Each team struggled to find its footing early, but Chesterton used the Sims and-one along with a Chris Mullen and-one to grab a 6-2 lead.

 

Penn only scored two points in the first five minutes of the game, but Burton decided to take over the game from there. Chesterton forced the junior point guard into turnovers to begin the game, but he eliminated those as the game developed. He buried two triples, then created a steal for a layup to give Penn the 11-10 lead going to the second.

 

Burton continued to dominate the game in the second period. With his ability to get to the rim, Burton cannot be stopped when he is also knocking down outside shots. That was the dilemma for Chesterton as the Trojans tried multiple defenders on Burton with little success.

 

When Dylan Derda put back a Burton miss, Penn led 20-16. The Kingsmen opened a five-point lead on two occasions in the first half, but Grayson, Sims, and Sean Kasper kept Chesterton within striking distance.

 

By the second-quarter buzzer, Burton tallied 17 of Penn’s 26 points. Chesterton also had an uncharacteristic 12 turnovers in the first half.

 

Grayson scored twice early in the second half to tie the game at 28, and the Chesterton defense elevated its play. Burton could not get the looks he did in the first half, and no other Penn player stepped up.

 

Late in the third quarter, Sims scored at the basket to give Chesterton its first lead since the opening quarter. Penn responded by hitting the offensive glass behind Derda and Blake Barker, plus free throws from Dominic Bonner.

 

Penn held the lead late in the quarter before Grayson grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback before the buzzer.

 

With the game tied going to the fourth, Burton cramped in both legs after the third-quarter buzzer. He provides most of the Penn offense but was held scoreless in the third frame and now battled cramps. In the fourth period, Burton returned to the court but was a shell of himself.

 

Grayson tallied eight in the third period after scoring six points in the first half. He continued to play well in the fourth, but the Chesterton supporting cast also picked up its production in the fourth. Tyler Parrish and Owen Guest connected on three-pointers to give the Trojans a 44-38 lead.

 

Grayson shoots over 80 percent from the line for the year, but he started Saturday night’s game 2-5 from the line. However, that changed in the fourth as the senior went eight of eight at the charity stripe. Overall, the Trojans made 22 of 28 free throws (78.6 percent), which helped the Trojans increase their lead down the stretch.

 

With Burton limited, Penn could not get its offense clicking against the stellar Chesterton defense. The Trojans sensed blood in the fourth and jumped the Kingsmen for the kill.

 

Parrish scored all ten of his points in the fourth, and Grayson added eight in the frame to seal Chesterton’s 59-48 victory.

 

Not only is this the first regional title for Chesterton, but the Trojans only played in the regional championship game two other times. Chesterton lost to North Miami at the Logansport regional title game in 1968, and Matt Nover’s squad lost to Michigan Rogers in the 1987 Michigan City regional final.

 

On Saturday, Chesterton (28-0) will play Kokomo (19-7) at the Lafayette Jeff semi-state.

 

Grayson led Chesterton with 22 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Sims recorded a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds. Guest and Mullen each scored five points. Kasper hit a three-pointer, and Carson Parrish scored two.

 

Burton led Penn with 20 points and four steals, but he only managed three after halftime. Joe Smith added nine points, and Bonner scored eight. Derda and Barker each scored four points. Cole Wojciechowski added a bucket, and Trey Miller made a free throw.

 

Penn only shot 3-13 from three and 11-18 from the line.

 

Penn finishes its season with a 24-3 record.