EC’s Moore not half bad
By John O’Malley Post-Tribune correspondent February 10, 2012 11:18PM
East Chicago's Andrianna Moore pulls down a rebound against West Side's Tinon Hunter in the third quarter Friday night at Munster High School. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 12, 2012 8:09AM
MUNSTER — East Chicago Central’s Andrianna Moore played only about half of the game against West Side — but the damage she caused was catastrophic to the Cougars.
The senior center, who found herself in early foul trouble, scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading East Chicago (16-6) to a thrilling 69-65 victory over West Side in the first game of Friday night’s Class 4A Munster Sectional.
The Cardinals meet Lake Central, an easy 66-40 winner over Lowell in the second game, in tonight’s championship game at 7 p.m.
Senior guard Shanterra Jones scored 20 points — 14 of them coming in the second half — while freshman Tiajaney Hawkins added 12.
The Cardinals were trailing the Cougars (17-5) 31-19 after West Side went on a hectic binge, but managed to get back into the game and trailed only 31-27 at the break.
A 21-1 run by the Cardinals — overlapping the last 2:19 of the second quarter and the first 2:39 of the third period — turned a 12-point EC Central deficit into a 40-32 lead.
The Cardinals’ lead grew to as much as 11 points before the Cougars settled down a little.
Jones said when her team was down 12 points late in the first half, it was gut-check time.
“Right then, it was do or die for us,’’ Jones said. “Andrianna was in foul trouble, but we knew we had to start playing right then. We had to do it — the seniors couldn’t let it be our last game this season.’’
The Cougars had more than a little bit of difficulty matching up with the 6-foot-1 Moore.
“She scores 25 and she plays half the game? How about that, huh,?’’ EC Central coach Eric Kundich said. “I have to tip my hat to my bench and my reserves. They were a little bit timid out there at first, but they played pretty well for the most part and they got some great experience in the process.’’
Kundich said the 20 points Jones scored in addition to Moore’s game was huge.
“She’s had some off games this year, but we told her we needed another scoring threat,’’ Kundich said. “She played really well for us tonight.’’
In the second game, Lake Central (13-9) fell behind Lowell (18-4) by 12 points in the first quarter (14-2) but roared back to take a 27-22 halftime lead before breaking the game open in the third quarter and blowing the Red Devils out completely in the final period.
“We talked to the kids before the game and we told them to expect Lowell to make a run early in the game,’’ LC coach Leslie Iwema said. “We told them Lowell would come out with a lot of emotion and not to panic.’’
Sophomore point guard Lizzie Seymour turned in a strong performance for the Indians, scoring 16 points in the first three quarters.
“I did get a little nervous there in the beginning,’’ Seymour said with a smile. “I knew we’d step it up. I knew that I was quicker than their guards and I knew I had a step on them.’’
Seymour, who scored only two points in LC’s opening game win over Munster Wednesday night, made a variety of driving shots, including some tough running bank shots off the glass while heading out of bounds.
“I work on that shot a lot,’’ Seymour said. “I work on those shots in the driveway at home with my (younger) brother, Bobby, who’s in seventh grade.’’
Nikki Adams scored 14 points for LC, while Jessica Bell and Tara Zlotkowski added nine each.
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