Different paths to victory

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:46PM

Crown Point wanted to make its presence known early.

And with a 12-0 run during the first quarter of their Class 4A sectional opener against Hobart, the Bulldogs did just the that. After a whopping 39-5 lead at the half, the Bulldogs finished with a 77-32 rout over the Brickies.

In the next game on Wednesday night, Campbell street rivals Valparaiso and Chesterton fought in a close battle until the first few minutes of the fourth quarter. But Valparaiso senior Adam Butterfield was too much to handle as the Vikings won 52-33.

In the opener, the Bulldogs (18-3) distributed the wealth throughout the opening period, with six players contributing baskets. Beyond the shots, a tenacious defense is what locked out Hobart (2-19).

"We were very crisp from the beginning and then defensively we really limited their opportunities," CP coach Clint Swan said.

Swan gave two reasons for the lopsided half.

"One part of it was our experience," he said. "We really took care of the basketball and maximized every possession."

While guard Thomas Bardeson was the only Bulldogs player in double figures, with 14 points, junior guard Zachary Bostian produced well above his two-point average. The guard was instrumental in the team's barrage of five 3-pointers in the second half.

"That gives us a good opportunity to keep the energy up and head into Friday," said Bostian, who had eight points and sank two treys. "We all played hard (defense), we all played in a stance."

Hobart senior Nicholas Lafty had a bittersweet finale to his high school career. Even though the Brickies weren't able to gain traction, he led all scorers with 24 points (including four 3-pointers). Lafty said he was motivated to give it everything he had.

"You should always just try your hardest no matter what's happening," he said. "Coach said in the locker room, ‘I know the score is lopsided, but try to go out and represent Hobart the best we can.'"

In the second game, Valparaiso's Butterfield also was feeling it from beyond the arc in the Vikings' win over the Trojans.

After a 12-0 run to open up the game, the Vikings (13-8) were nearly eclipsed by Chesterton in the 12-9 first period.

Then chances of a complete Trojans takeover were cut short in the last eight minutes.

Following a technical foul against Chesterton, with Valparaiso holding a lead of 39-31, Butterfield scored 12 of his career-high 28 points in the fourth quarter.

"I've been shooting a lot at practice and I love Michigan City's gym (where he had 19 points in a sectional game last year against LaPorte)," Butterfield said.

Chesterton (2-19) coach Tom Peller was proud of his team's fight, especially from junior KeMonte Price, who scored 16 points, well above his average of nine.

"Sometimes when you have a 2-18 season, you just fold up and we didn't do that," Peller said. "I thought Key was our leader and got us back (from the early run)."

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