Junior powers Bulldogs rout
Purdue recruit Stoddard records double-double
Crown Point’s Lilly Stoddard was her usual presence inside Thursday night.
The 6-foot-4 junior forward grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots in the Bulldogs’ 79-36 Duneland Athletic Conference win at Chesterton.
But the Purdue recruit also hit 2 of 3 shots from 3-point range as part of her 15 points.
“I’ve definitely worked on my shooting,” Stoddard said. “I know the game’s becoming more versatile. There’s not really one set position people are playing. But making threes in a game, it’s definitely due to my teammates finding me and getting me the ball in a good position to score.”
Stoddard entered the game 4 of 19 on 3-point attempts this season for Crown Point (15-1, 6-0). Coach Chris Seibert wasn’t surprised she increased her total made by 50% against Chesterton (12-7, 3-4).
“It’s just the evolution of her game,” Seibert said. “She’s worked really hard on her outside shooting and being able to handle the ball. It’s a credit to the hard work and time she’s put in at the gym. She knows those are things that are going to be asked of her at the college level.”
Crown Point hit 11 3-pointers Thursday. Star junior guard Jessica Carrothers made a seasonhigh five on her way to 29 points, to go along with three rebounds, four assists and five steals. Junior guard Alyvia Santiago knocked down three 3-pointers.
“We shot the ball well from the perimeter,” Seibert said. “We did a really nice job of making the extra pass, and kids stepped up and were ready to shoot the ball.”
Sophomore guard Ingrid Hurst led Chesterton with 10 points, and senior guard Nalani Malackowski added nine.
The game was the second back for Chesterton coach Jack Campbell, who is in his 33rd season. He had tested positive for COVID-19 and missed three games before returning Tuesday against Bishop Noll.
“I was out of school and facedown for a week,” Campbell said.
“You’re just weak. It’s exhausting to do anything. It’s exhausting to watch what I just watched.
“We couldn’t have started the game any worse. We missed four or five layups at the basket, and they make four threes (in the first quarter). Not that it would’ve change the outcome of the game. But we should’ve felt good about ourselves, having broken the press and made a layup at the other end, and we didn’t. From there, it just snowballed.”
Crown Point, ranked No. 2 in the state coaches poll, clinched at least a share of the conference title. The Bulldogs can secure their third straight title and undefeated conference run with a win Monday against Michigan City.
“We talk a lot about being able to flip the switch when you’re on the court,” Seibert said. “It’s business when you’re on the floor. But they can’t get numb to being able to celebrate with their teammates and being able to enjoy being together and playing basketball. A lot of them are serious kids by nature, but hopefully they can let loose and really celebrate the way they’ve
been playing.”
Indeed, Crown Point has been particularly dominant in recent games, with sectionals starting in a little more than a week.
“We’re progressing every single game as a team,” Stoddard said. “We’re getting closer and just really have learned how each other plays.
“We know we can’t let up because we don’t want a team to think they can have a chance the next time we play them. We’re just really playing hard and coming together as a team. We really want to go far this year, and if we keep playing how we are now, we have a good chance.”