Cougars run past Trojans

CHESTERTON — West Side entered Thursday night’s contest averaging 66.2 points per game.

And that offense appears to have no intention of slowing down, as the Cougars topped that season average with a 75-53 win over Chesterton (10-10) in the final regularseason tuneup for both squads.

The 75-point outburst marked the sixth time that the Cougars (153) passed the 70-point plateau in the last three weeks.

“We did what we needed to do,” West Side head coach Rod Fisher said. “We got out and ran and caused some turnovers — especially in the first half.”

It didn’t take long for the Cougars’ offense to get rolling in this one. By the middle of the first quarter, West Side had jumped out to a 17-7 lead and led 21-11 after the first eight minutes.

The Cougars’ advantage continued to grow in the second quarter, as freshman guard Dana Evans scored 12 points in the period to lead West Side. She finished the first half with 21 points and her team went into the locker room with a 43-19 halftime lead.

“They’re just a good team. We couldn’t stop their dribble penetration,” said Chesterton head coach Jack Campbell, whose team was wearing pink jerseys in support of Coaches Vs. Cancer.

“We just dug ourselves too big of a hole. I thought we missed some shots early,” Campbell said before repeating: “They’re just good.”

West Side opened the third quarter on a 19-3 run to put to rest any thoughts of a Chesterton comeback in the second half. Evans finished with a team-high 27 points.

Chesterton’s offense was led by Caroline Puntillo, who made the best of an otherwise disappointing senior night by doubling her season average with a game-high 38 points.

Both teams will open their postseason Wednesday night. Chesterton heads to the Hobart Sectional, where it will face Michigan City. West Side will head to the Lowell Sectional to face Munster.