By Ben Davis
The LaPorte Slicers boys basketball team got another quality win to wrap up its regular season by defeating the Lake Central Indians, 71-59, on Friday night, Feb. 26, at Slicer Gym. The win improved the Slicers to 13-7 on the season.
“I thought the effort was really, really good tonight,” said Slicer head coach Tom Wells. “We came out in a 2-2-1 (zone) in the second half and were able to get a five-point lead and not relinquish it.”
The win came on Senior Night, when all the senior basketball players were honored along with all senior pom-pom squad members and senior cheerleaders.
All four Slicer senior players finished their last career home game with a bang. Guards Evan Jurjevic and Patrick Spence, and forwards Rich Leslie and Dustin DeMuth, contributed to the Slicer winning effort.
“All four guys just, well, did what they do best. Dustin did it slashing to the basket, Rich and Pat hit three-point shots, Rich made a few interior baskets, and Evan set the table for everybody,” said Wells.
After a close first half the teams went to the locker room deadlock 25-25. But the Slicers immediately jumped on the Indians in the second half, going on a quick 8-2 run and establishing a lead they would not give up for the rest of the game.
“The first two minutes of the third quarter were really good for us,” said Wells. “It is almost the third game in a row where our third quarter has been really good.”
Now that the Slicers have wrapped up their regular season, their focus turns to the start of the state tournament, which will begin on Tuesday night when the Slicers take on Crown Point in the opening round of sectional play in Michigan City. And the Slicers are a very confident group heading into the game.
“We have won four games in a row and five out of our last six games, so I would say we are on an uptick and coming in there (the sectional) with just about as much confidence as anybody,” said Wells. “We have always felt like Michigan City’s gym is like a second home to us. We will have to be special, but I think we can be special.”
