Boys basketball: Munster rolls past Hammond behind Nate Bubash
By John O’Malley Post-Tribune correspondent November 30, 2012 11:18PM
Updated: January 2, 2013 6:13AM
MUNSTER — Maybe it was the fact his team hadn’t played a game in nine days.
Maybe Munster’s Nate Bubash just wanted to come out and play a strong overall game and help his team to its second win this season.
Whatever it was, the 6-foot-6 senior played the game like he was in fast forward Friday night, helping the Mustangs nearly double the score on Hammond in a 58-30 romp.
Bubash scored a game-high 21 points — 14 in the second half — and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Munster (2-0) which hadn’t played since a season-opening win over Gavit on Nov. 21.
“Nate’s shown in the past he can have some big nights for us,’’ Munster coach Mike Hackett said. “He could have had a huge night for us tonight if he’d have just slowed down a little bit.’’
Bubash had a huge night anyway against a Wildcats team that shot 18.5 percent from the floor overall, had a virtually non-existent inside game and went a dreadful 0-for-13 from behind the arc.
“I was just trying to score the ball and I was a little bit too excited at times, I guess,’’ Bubash said. “When I see an opportunity to score, I try to take it. I rushed a little bit too much a few times.’’
Bubash had plenty of help, too.
Sophomore guard Drew Hackett swished three of his four 3-point baskets in the first period to lead Munster to a 17-4 lead after the first period.
Hackett, who scored a career-high 18 points, scored nine of his team’s first 14 points and had 13 by halftime when the ‘Stangs held a 29-13 advantage.
Munster point guard Michael Schlotman finished with a career-high 16 rebounds, scored 10 points and handed out six assists.
Schlotman, more than likely, would have had a triple-double if the Mustangs hadn’t rushed so many of their shots.
