McCormick’s place
Junior forward comes off the bench to spark Kouts in rout of Westville
Kouts junior Connor McCormick knows his role.
While it’s not a glamorous one, the 6-foot-2 forward relishes his spot as the team’s sixth man.
“I want to be that energy provider and that spark for my team out there if we don’t have anything going,” McCormick said.
That opportunity materialized Friday night for McCormick with post players Zac Nomanson and Anthony Norman in early foul trouble.
McCormick’s seven points and three rebounds in the second quarter keyed a 10-2 spurt, giving Kouts a double-digit lead that remained throughout in an 81-47 Porter County Conference blowout of visiting Westville.
“I just needed to go in there and do my job, which is get rebounds and score in the paint,” McCormick said. “I was kind of feeling myself a little bit (Friday). It felt pretty good to be able to come in there and do that.
“I feel like I did my job, but my teammates definitely did their jobs too getting me the ball within the flow of the offense.”
McCormick finished with 12 points and six rebounds for Kouts (6-0, 3-0), exceeding his season averages of five points and three rebounds.
“We feel good with our first eight and feel like we can play them and we’re gonna be OK,” Kouts coach Kevin Duzan said. “But it’s just reassuring when you see a kid like Connor go out and do that.
“Now that maybe gives him some more confidence the next time out to feel like he can contribute for us in a little closer situation.”
Leading 17-15 after the first quarter, the Mustangs turned on the rout with a 16-3 burst in the