No contest for 59ers
By Michael Osipoff 648-3137 or mosipoff@post-trib.com February 3, 2012 11:16PM
Andrean's Josh James shoots over Lowell's Nick Kijurna during their game held at Andrean High School on Friday February 3, 2012. | Charles Mitchell~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 5, 2012 8:09AM
MERRILLVILLE — This one was over relatively quickly, for all intents and purposes.
Andrean opened Friday night’s game against Lowell sizzling offensively and swarming defensively, on its way to an 84-54 victory.
The 59ers made their first three shots of the game — all 3-pointers — and their trap forced turnovers on each of the Red Devils’ first two possessions, taking a 9-2 lead.
Andrean made five of its first six shots for a 13-2 lead.
And by the time the first quarter ended, the 59ers (13-1, 5-0 NCC) had built a 22-2 cushion.
“We had good intensity and executed our rotations well early,” Andrean coach Carson Cunningham said. “We were sharing the apple and knocking down jumpers, and getting the ball inside. When that happens, you get a nice flow going.”
The Devils (6-10, 2-3) missed all 10 of their shots in the first quarter, and committed eight turnovers. Their only points came on Danny DeBoer’s free throws with 6:41 left, before Zach VanHook scored an inside basket 25 seconds into the second quarter.
“They made shots, and we didn’t; it’s as simple as that,” Lowell coach Nate Richie said.
“Give credit to Andrean. They’re a good basketball team. Take nothing away from them. But we hurt ourselves with missed shots and turnovers. You can’t do that against a good team.”
Despite their sizeable early deficit, the Devils continued to compete, drawing as close as 38-30 as late as 5:46 remaining in the third quarter. But the 59ers pulled away, particularly in the game’s latter stages, as the final score represented their largest margin.
“Give Lowell credit,” Cunningham said. “They made some adjustments and knocked down some shots in the second quarter, and made it a ballgame.”
Collin Wojcik scored a game-high 24 points, hitting four of Andrean’s nine 3-pointers. Nick Davidson had 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. D.J. Gonzalez scored 11 of his 13 points as part of a 30-point fourth quarter for the 59ers, and Sam Toporski added 10 points.
“He’s been shooting really well for several weeks,” Cunningham said of Wojcik.
DeBoer paced the Devils with 13 points, before fouling out with 4:41 left in the game, Lowell’s third player to foul out.
“Inconsistent officiating, it makes a big difference,” said Richie, whose team went 8-of-15 from the foul line, with Andrean going 21-of-35. “That’s just the truth.”
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