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BY AL HAMNIK
ahamnik@nwitimes.com
219.933.4154 | Sunday, March 02, 2008 | (3 comment(s))
BOYS BASKETBALL
EAST CHICAGO | West Side picked itself off the ground after two embarrassing quarters, pushed E.C. Central briefly against the wall, then got smacked down Saturday night.
Push these defending Class 4A champion Cardinals hard enough, though, and they'll put you on your backside as evidenced by their 67-51 rout of the Cougars before several thousand fans at the Baratto Center.
"I think I got 12 fighters ready to go to war and battle anyone. That comes from my seniors," E.C. coach Abe Brown said. "It shows how bad they want it."
The Cardinals (19-3) soared out to a 20-1 lead and were in control much of the way until West Side (18-5) rallied behind the re-ignited offense of Xavier Jones and Gerald Campbell, who finished with 18 points apiece and helped trim the deficit to 60-50 with 2:29 to go.
The Cougars could get no closer than 10.
Kawann Short punched his team's third straight ticket to the March 8 Michigan City Regional with 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Matthew Julkes had 14 points, Derrell Conner 13, Bryce Walker 12 and Angel Garcia an entertaining six blocks.
"That was one of my goals before the season -- to get 20 rebounds in a game," Short said. "I know sometimes (tonight) it was over the back, but the refs weren't calling it, so may as well take advantage."
E.C. Central, as it did last year, refused to cut down the nets after its 13th sectional title was in the books.
"Not until we get back to Conseco (Fieldhouse)," Julkes said.
"You can't teach this," he said of the Cardinals' indomitable spirit. "We figure if we go hard in practice and (battle) each other but don't do it to the other team, there will be no positive results.
"We're fighters. We're warriors. We play with a lot of energy."
East Chicago has won 42 of its last 48 games, including 10 straight, and will meet the winner of Monday night's Michigan City Sectional title game between Hobart and Crown Point.
Among Saturday night's crowd were members of last year's state championship team -- Anthony Sain, Trey Weathers, Jerek Blevins and E'Twaun Moore. They spoke to this year's team before the game and Purdue coach Matt Painter also phoned in.
"I get pressure every day, nonstop, every corner I turn," said a smiling Brown, in his first season as head coach. "But I figure if I can survive this, I can go anywhere in the world and do anything I want."
A return trip to Indianapolis would be a sweet start.
Class 4A East Chicago Sectional
Championship
E.C. Central 67, West Side 51
Kawann Short led the Cardinals with 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.
Crown Point, Hobart advance to finals at M.C.
In the Class 4A Michigan City Sectional semifinals, the Bulldogs stunned Chesterton, while Hobart outlasted Valparaiso in four overtimes. B4
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Cardinal Fan wrote on Mar 2, 2008 6:17 PM:
{ DEVON BONAPARTE'S FAN} wrote on Mar 2, 2008 2:53 PM:
1994 Grad wrote on Mar 2, 2008 8:14 AM: