Calumet surges past Noll in 2nd half

Hammond -- Mike Akins is definitely too smart to reveal what Calumet coach Carl Traicoff discussed in their locker room during halftime.

"I can't say that," said Akins about what was in Traicoff's halftime motivational speech.

The Warriors (2-0, GSSC 1-0) trailed Greater South Shore Conference rival Bishop Noll by three at the break, but whatever the vocal coach said worked.

Behind Akins and a trio of seniors, the Warriors battled all the way back and slammed the door 79-70 against Bishop Noll (2-1, 0-1).

The 6-2 senior explained that the contents of the speech basically eluded to that a tougher practice would follow if they didn't execute better. So, Akins poured in another 12 of his game-high 24 points in the second half.

"My shot wasn't falling, so I had to get to the basket," Akins said of his 2-of-8 first-half shooting.

Akins finished with eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while the trio of Clarence Bryant, C.J. Montgomery, and Larry Alexander also supplied much needed balance to knock off scrappy Bishop Noll.

Bryant had the crowd in awe on a couple of his five assists, as he slashed through the defense to find Montgomery and Alexander, giving his fellow seniors easy baskets. The 5-foot-7 guard also tacked on 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven steals.

When Calumet's lead appeared to be out of reach, Triacoff pulled his starters. Then Bishop Noll chipped the lead to seven points, and that was enough to send Montgomery and Akins right back in to halt the surge.

Montgomery finished with 17 points, but it was his two 3-pointers early in the third quarter that turned all the momentum back into the Warriors' favor.

Alexander, who grabbed eight rebounds, dominated the paint in the first half, as the 6-5 center scored eight of his 10 points in that half.

Jason Chorba and Kris Wilson led the way for the Warriors, with Chroba scoring 17 points and Wilson also reached double figures with 10 points and four rebounds.