The Chesterton boys basketball team struggled all night.

The Michigan City Wolves put together an 8-0 run over the final 1:51 of play Friday night to garner a 55-49 Duneland Athletic Conference victory over the Trojans.

“We never got into any kind of rhythm,” Chesterton coach Tom Peller said. “It was just selfish basketball at times and we can’t have that.”

Chesterton did get a basket from Matt Holba with 1:51 to play to take a 49-47 lead, but the Wolves got a conventional three-point play from Anthony Simmons that came on a second offensive rebound during the possession for a lead they would never relinquish.

“I thought the possession late where they got 2 or 3 offensive rebounds and scored was the turning point,” Peller said. “We didn’t have that toughness there that we needed and we never got it back.”

Another basket by Simmons and 3-of-4 free throws in the final 25 seconds iced the victory for Michigan City as the Trojans also turned the ball over on two of their final three possessions.

“We seemed like we were in a hurry all night,” Peller said. “City didn’t really pressure us, but we were traveling and making bad passes for no reason.”

Neither team ever mustered much of a lead as Chesterton led by four on two occasions and City never led by more than a basket until the final minute.

“We had a lot of individual play tonight and not a lot of team play,” Peller said. “Everybody was trying to make a play themselves instead of working together to make something happen.”

Holba led all scorers with 14 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, while Cole Teal added nine points and Donnie Johnson scored eight points.

The Trojans played without starting point guard Corey Rusboldt due to illness.

“I think not having Corey was a factor,” Peller said. “He’s been our point guard all year, but we have plenty of other guys that can step in and play that position. Tonight, we just didn’t have anybody step up and get it done.”

Chesterton (10-16-9-14)

Matt Holba 6-14 2-5 14, Chris Palombizio 2-4 0-0 6, Cole Teal 1-6 6-6 9, Donnie Johnson 3-5 0-0 8, Avery Beeks 1-7 0-1 2, Mike Thanos 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Andert 3-6 0-1 6, Jacob Wasielewski 0-1 0-0 0, Tevin Dilosa 1-1 2-2 4, Brandon Roeske 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-45 10-15 49.

Michigan City (11-12-14-18)

Lacy Johnson 1-2 3-4 5, Lucas Daurer 2-4 3-3 8, Donovan Wilson 3-7 1-3 8, Ryan Taylor 0-5 6-6 6, Anthony Simmons 4-7 2-3 10, Michael Smallwood 2-3 1-2 5, Shayne Barron 0-2 2-2 2, A’Seante Clark 2-6 1-2 5, Corey Workman 0-0 0-0 0, Juwan Garrett 0-1 0-0 0, Brad Pawloski 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 16-39 19-25 55.

3-point field goals: Chesterton 5-12 (Palombizio 2-3, Teal 1-2, Johnson 2-4, Beeks 0-1, Andert 0-2); Michigan City 3-13 (Daurer 1-3, Taylor 0-3, Clark 0-3, Garrett 0-1, Pawloski 2-3). Rebounds: Chesterton 31 (Holba 10); Michigan City 30 (Smallwood 7). Assists: Chesterton 3 (Holba 1, Teal 1, Andert 1); Michigan City 7 (Clark 2). Steals: Chesterton 6 (Holba 2, Andert 2); Michigan City 1 (Daurer 1).

The Chesterton junior varsity picked up a 38-29 Duneland Athletic Conference victory on Friday night at Michigan City.

Niles Dilosa led the Trojans with 11 points, while Steffan Dines added seven points. Jordan Dilosa and Jimmy McGowan each tallied five points in the victory.

Niles and Jordan Dilosa each grabbed a game-high five rebounds, while Jordan also recorded four steals. Dines recorded three steals.

Posted 12/10/2012