Girls Basketball: Merrillville pulls away from Portage

Updated: January 8, 2012 12:09AM

MERRILLVILLE — Merrillville girls basketball coach Amy Govert knows it sounds silly. How can it be possible to be upset after a 23-point victory, one that helped the Pirates improve to 13-0 and remain firmly in control of the Duneland Conference race?

Well, Merrillville’s play during the first half of Saturday’s 63-40 DAC victory over Portage is why.

The Pirates looked lost at times. They built a 10-point lead and nearly gave it away. They missed free throws. They turned the ball over.

Govert was pointing out gray hairs afterward.

“We didn’t come out with any intensity,” Govert said. “We just came out flat. At least we responded in the second half. We’re going to have nights when we don’t shoot well, but we have to play with intensity. One of these days, a team’s going to build a lead on us, and we won’t be able to come back.”

This time, clinging to a 33-29 advantage, the Pirates awoke near the midway point of the third quarter. They rattled off a 12-0 run and dominated the rest of the way.

Both Govert and Merrillville standout guard Raveen Murray credited reserve Anjelica Peppers for providing the spark.

“It started off with Jelly,” Murray said. “When one person gets us going, the whole team falls behind that one person.”

Peppers finished with just one point, but it was her defense that gave the Pirates (13-0, 9-0 DAC) a jolt. Merrillville forced the Indians (4-12, 2-7 DAC) into 21 turnovers on the night.

“That’s a credit to Merrillville,” Portage coach Chris Seibert said. “They pressured us, and we didn’t take care of the ball.”

Murray finished with a game-high 24 points, while freshman forward Victoria Gaines added 16 for the Pirates. Nicki Mohahan paced Portage with 15 points.

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