Girls Basketball: Wheeler hands Calumet first GSSC loss

VALPARAISO — According to the old saying, all good things must come to an end.

In the Greater South Shore Conference’s five seasons, aside from a loss by forfeit last season, longtime Calumet coach Dori Downing and her girls had been unbeaten against conference opponents. But that streak ended Saturday with a a 55-40 road loss to the Bearcats and coach Dustin Nelson, Downing’s good friend.

“Did you come in expecting anything different? They’re the better team,” Downing said matter-of-factly.

When Calumet started to make stops in the paint, then the Bearcats would shift to the perimeter. This tactic helped the Bearcats to a 23-9 first-quarter and a 42-16 halftime score.

“You have a game plan and I thought to myself, ‘You can’t stop the inside and the outside,’ ” Downing said.

As far as the post went, it was awfully tricky to stop Wheeler’s Paige Finch. Leading all scorers with 16, went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. 

“This was the first game where I’ve actually come back and felt like myself,” Finch said about an ankle sprain from a month ago.

Not only does the victory put the Bearcats (10-4, 5-1) in good position for the upcoming GSSC tourney (starting on Tuesday), but a quick lead allowed Nelson to get some looks at younger players.

“Getting out to an early lead was a chance for us to work on things we’re trying to develop,” he said. “For us to beat that team is an honor, because I have so much respect for coach Downing.

Downing, who’s leading a rebuilding Calumet team (5-10, 5-1), didn’t seem too upset about passing the torch.

“I’ve been blessed; I’ve been lucky,“ she said before quipping, “If you’re going to lose, keep it in the family … Go, Bearcats.”

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