(Travis Grayson with the semi-state net)

 

In Lafayette, Chesterton (28-0) faced Kokomo (20-7) in front of a nearly packed Crawley Center for the right to play for the 4A state title.

 

 

Turnovers dominated the action early as Travis Grayson picked the pocket of Zavion Bellamy a second after the opening tip. They combined for nine first-quarter turnovers as they settled into the crucial game.

 

Scoring was tough to find for most of the first quarter. It took a Grayson steal and conversion at the other end to give Chesterton a 4-3 lead with just 1:16 left in the opening quarter. But freshman Zion Bellamy made a floater in the lane to provide Kokomo a 6-4 lead after one.

 

Most teams have tried to get Flory Bidunga in foul trouble all season, which was a priority for Chesterton. It worked as Bidunga picked up his second foul with 6:08 left in the half and sat the rest of the way.

 

Kokomo picked up its scoring from there. Deundre Kirby gave the Kats a lift off the bench with four points and two rebounds. Brandon Bennett also filled in for Bidunga well with four points and three rebounds.

 

Travis Grayson powered the Chesterton offense and defense. The Trojans extended their defensive pressure full court most of the game, leading to plenty of Kokomo turnovers. The Kats committed seven first-half turnovers.

 

Grayson scored 12 of the 21 first-half points for Chesterton, including a bucket at the end of the half when he snuck up on Shayne Spear to create the turnover.

 

Chris Mullen buried a second-quarter three-pointer to get the Chesterton moving. Before that, most of the Trojans' points came at the free-throw line. Chesterton went 8-10 from the line in the first half.

 

In the first half, Mullen had five points and five rebounds to help the Trojans to a 21-18 halftime lead.

 

With Chesterton's pressure bothering the Kokomo guards, John Peckinpaugh moved Spear to the primary ball-handler position, and it relieved the backcourt turnovers in the third quarter. With Spear driving and kicking, Kokomo scored the first seven points of the second half. After the spurt, Kokomo maintained a slight lead for most of the third quarter.

 

One of the game's biggest plays happened with 1:59 remaining in the third. Bidunga posted on the block and made a move to the basket. The first official indicated a charge on Bidunga, and it would be his fourth. The second ref whistled a foul on Carson Parrish and counted the basket.

 

It seemed like a game-changing call at the time, but Bidunga's fourth foul came a minute later on the defensive end.

 

Grayson attacked in transition late in the quarter after grabbing a rebound but was called for a double-dribble. That sent Chesterton head coach Marc Urban off the edge, and the Chesterton bench received a technical foul.

 

Kokomo took a 34-29 lead into the fourth behind two Spear free throws.

 

Chesterton faced deficits in the second half many times in the regular season and postseason, and the Trojans never changed their mindset or gameplan. That proved to be the case once again on Saturday.

 

Kokomo extended its lead to 40-34 with 4:55 left in the game following six points by Beard to begin the fourth quarter. But, instead of panicking, the Trojan defense and Grayson took over the contest. After Grayson converted two free throws, the Chesterton defense forced consecutive turnovers. Suddenly, the game was tied.

 

Grayson's ability to manage the team and protect the ball while looking to attack is impeccable. He drew foul after foul on Kokomo, but Grayson looks to finish the play instead of just drawing the foul.

 

Bidunga blocked Grayson in the lane with under a minute to play, but Mullen recovered the block. Chesterton milked the clock before Grayson drove to the lane. As he went for a two-floater, Patrick Hardimon fouled as he was trailing the drive.

 

Grayson made both to put Chesterton up 42-40 with 7.4 seconds left.

 

Going the length of the court, Spear found a straight path to the bucket with an unintentional/intentional screen by Bidunga at the elbow. Sims came from the weak side to block the shot, but Spear drew the foul with 1.7 seconds left.

 

Spear missed the first free throw, then missed the second on purpose. The rebound went out of bounds to Kokomo with 0.4 seconds remaining.

 

After multiple timeouts, Kokomo found Spear for a game-winning three, but it was off the mark.

 

Chesterton won 42-40.

 

Grayson led Chesterton with 27 points – 15-16 from the foul line – and four steals and three rebounds.

 

Mullen added five points and seven rebounds, while Sims finished with four points and seven rebounds. Carson Parrish tallied three points and four rebounds. Owen Guest added two points and two rebounds.

 

Bidunga led Kokomo with 11 points, ten rebounds, and four blocks but only played 21 minutes due to foul trouble. Beard scored ten, and Spear finished with six points, three assists, and three rebounds. Deundre Kirby had four points, four rebounds, and two assists.

 

Chesterton plays Cathedral for the 4A IHSAA boys basketball state title on March 26 in Indianapolis.