Mustangs' 2-3 zone defense stymies Bulldogs in 41-28 win at CP

A USA-365.com Special Report  by the USA-365.com team
12-26-2019

Team /Record 1 2 3 4 Final
MUNSTER (5-1) 17 10 5 9 41
CROWN POINT (14-9) 13 4 0 11 28

Friday, December 20, 2019 - Nonconference game at CROWN POINT, Ind.

Munster's Josh Davis (11) and Jeremiah Lovett stand for the national anthem. The Mustangs took the floor at Crown Point with a 4-1 record.
(All photos by Mark Smith)
Munster's Keith Kaszycki (42) looks for free space in the foul lane and CP's Jake Oostman (42) and David Brown (30) have other ideas. Both teams scored season-low point totals in the nonconference game.
CP's Ty Smith (12) and Drew Adzia (14) look for a crack in Munster's zone defense. The Bulldogs sank just 10 of 37 shots from the floor.
Some younger fans were interested in basketball and some weren't four nights before Christmas at Crown Point.
Crown Point's Jake Oostman (42) looks for the way around Munster's Jeff Hemmelgarn (40) in the annual Munster-CP game last Friday.
Munster's 6-foot-8 Jeff Hemmelgarn (40) is a big problem for CP forward Miles Lubbers (22) in the Mustangs' game at CP.
Crown Point's sophomore Darren Roach (24) looks for the ball against Munster. CP has only four seniors on the 2020 roster.
Munster's Keith Kaszycki (44) gets position close to the basket against Crown Point. Both teams scored season low point totals.
CP's David Brown (30) slices through the entire Munster defense to score in the second quarter. Brown and Drew Adzia finished with just five points behind only Ty Smith's nine points for CP.
The upper corner of the upper deck at Crown Point has long been a meeting spot for kids of a certain age. CP will be back on the home floor Friday, January 3 against Kankakee Valley. (All photos by Mark Smith)
 

Copyright © 2019 USA-365.com and Meyer Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp.  All rights reserved.
Revised: January 02, 2020 .

 

MUNSTER (41) PJ Katona 4-0-9, Jeremiah Lovett 2-1-5, Luka Balac 3-0-6, Keith Kaszycki 2-0-4, Jeff Hemmelgarn 4-0-8, Clayton Bubash 1-0-3, Bryce Schaum 1-0-2, Josh Davis 2-0-4, Tim Gianinni 0-0-0, Dane Hamilton 0-0-0. TOTALS: 19 (1-6) 41.

CROWN POINT (28) Ty Smith 3-3-9, Drew Adzia 2-1-5, David Brown 2-1-5, Jake Oostman 1-0-2, Miles Lubbers 1-0-3, Dylan Matusak 1-0-3, Ben Uran 0-1-1, Darren Roach 0-0-0. TOTALS: 10 (4-7) 28.

FREE THROWS: MUNSTER (1 of 6, 16.7%) Lovett 1-2, Hemmelgarn 0-4; CROWN POINT (4 of 7, 57.1%) Smith 3-5, Uran 1-2.

ASSISTS: MUNSTER (3) Hemmelgarn 2, Lovett. CROWN POINT (7) Smith 2, Lubbesr 2, Roach, Uran, Ooostman.

TURNOVERS: MUNSTER (9), CROWN POINT (13).

3-GOALS: MUNSTER (2 of 7) PJ Katona, Clayton Bubash. CROWN POINT (4 of 16) Drew Adzia, Dylan Matusak, Miles Lubbers, David Brown.

FOULED OUT:  None.
 

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CROWN POINT (12-20-2019) There’s not a lot to be said about a varsity basketball game where neither team has a player who scores as many as 10 points.

It was a night controlled by Munster’s 2-3 zone defense, which took the points out of Crown Point in a 41-28 nonconference defensive battle.

Facing a taller team, CP was 10-of-37 (27%) from the field and only 4-of-14 in the second half, when they could not mount a rally against the visiting Mustangs (5-1) who were held to a season low 41 points.

The Bulldogs (2-3) outrebounded Munster 27-23 and the CP defense was good. The boys on the home team were patient, but they did not attack confidently against the Mustang’s style of defense.

Longtime Munster coach Mike Hackett agreed that the ‘front end’ in his 2-3 zone defensive formation (PJ Katona and Jeremiah Lovett) didn't give the Bulldogs a lot of time to figure things out.

“Those guys up front are very active and they read very well,” said Hackett. “They read the other guys' eyes. It was beneficial for us. I’d like to see us make a few more of the layups we had and free throws? (Munster was 1 of 6). We almost might as well speed the game and just give the other team the ball because we’re not even close on those.”

Crown Point coach Clint Swan was disappointed, but not discouraged by the lack of scoring.

“We got good looks,” said Swan. “We got some shots. They just didn't go down. For the first time, we got good movement.”

Munster, which eliminated CP in 4A Sectional 1 play last March, didn't dominate this game. The Mustangs stole the ball seven times in the first half, but led only 23-17.

The third quarter was somewhat of a stalemate as Munster outscored CP 5-0 for a 28-17 lead. CP was patient against the zone and Munster struggled with the shorter, scrambling Bulldog defenders.

Katona, a 6-foot senior guard, hit a three pointer and got a steal for a layup in the final period as the Mustangs held the lead of 10 or more. CP’s Drew Adzia and Dylan Matusak hit a couple of three-pointers for the home team, but CP only got to the foul line seven times and the zone prevented layups.

Swan seems to know that the 2020 playoff version of the Bulldogs will not resemble what the home fans saw last Friday.

“I think it's a product of having an inexperienced team,” he said. “We don't have a single guy whose role is the same as it was last year. Not one. I don't think we played badly. Shots just didn't go down.”

DOG NOTES: Crown Point plays the host team Noblesville (3-5) in the eight team Noblesville Holiday Tournament beginning Friday, Dec. 27.

The CP-Noblesville game is schedule for 2:45 p.m. Eastern time after a 12:45 p.m. game between Northridge (4-2) and Andrean (3-4). The favorite at Noblesville is probably Columbus North (6-1), which has lost only to Class 3A No. 8 Fishers (7-0). Lawrence North (6-0) is the No. 1 team. Lawrence North is undefeated and top-ranked in both the boys and girls polls at the end of December.

Munster was 22-5 last season, but they graduated seven seniors off that team. The Munster junior varsity was 20-2 last season.

Crown Point freshman AJ Lux hit a fadeaway three-point shot at the buzzer in the junior varsity game to give Crown Point a 46-43 victory over Munster.

Lux is the son of former Merrillville star and varsity basketball coach TJ Lux.

CP’s David Brown was struck in the face in the third quarter on a play where no foul was called. Brown, who finished with five points and eight rebounds, missed a short amount of time while CP’s trainers took him in the back and stopped the bleeding.

No one could immediately remember a varsity game where neither team stalled but neither team had a player score as many as ten points.

Crown Point was in Class 4A Sectional 1 last year, but not anymore. CP plays in Class 4A Sectional 2 this March against Hobart, Lowell, Portage, Valparaiso and Chesterton. The 6-team Sectional 2 will be held at Valparaiso high school.

USA-365.com/Indiana-Sports.com Broadcast Note: Our next USA-365.com/Indiana-Sports.com broadcast comes Friday, Jan. 10 when Crown Point travels to Michigan City for a high school girls and boys basketball double header. Our live coverage starts with the girls pregame show at 5:15 p.m. and tip-off at 5:30 p.m. CST. The CP boys will tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m. or 20-minutes after the conclusion of the CP Lady Bulldogs game.

CLASS SECTIONAL JOHNHARRELL.NET RECENT SEASONS
4A 2 COLORS: RED, WHITE MAP TO SCHOOL 2-3
TOURNAMENT HISTORY GYM: 3800
CROWN POINT
BULLDOGS
Coach: Clint Swan, 185-123 in 14th year at school, 323-195 in 23rd year overall
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 50.6, DA 55.4
Nov. 27   Bowman Academy 2A L 51 60    
Dec. 7   Penn 4A W 71 67    
Dec. 10 at East Chicago Central 4A W 65 59    
Dec. 14 at Warsaw 4A L 38 50    
Dec. 20   Munster 4A L 28 41    
Dec. 27 at Noblesville 4A 1:30 pm   tournament
Jan. 3   Kankakee Valley 3A 7:00 pm    
Jan. 4 at West Lafayette 3A 6:00 pm    
Jan. 10 at Michigan City 4A © 7:30 pm    
Jan. 17   Merrillville 4A © 7:00 pm    
Jan. 18 at Griffith 3A 7:00 pm    
Jan. 24   Chesterton 4A © 7:00 pm    
Jan. 31 at LaPorte 4A © 7:00 pm    
Feb. 1   South Bend Washington 3A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 6   Portage 4A © 7:00 pm    
Feb. 11   Andrean 2A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 14 at Valparaiso 4A © 7:00 pm    
Feb. 21   Lake Central 4A © 7:00 pm    
Feb. 22   McCutcheon 4A 5:30 pm    
Feb. 25 at Hammond Morton 4A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 28 at Lowell 4A 7:00 pm    
© DUNELAND CONFERENCE GAME

CLASS SECTIONAL JOHNHARRELL.NET RECENT SEASONS
4A 1 COLORS: RED, WHITE MAP TO SCHOOL 7-1
TOURNAMENT HISTORY GYM: 3400
MUNSTER
MUSTANGS
Coach: Mike Hackett, 359-111 in 20th year at school
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 60.3, DA 43.9
Nov. 27 at Hammond Noll 2A W 69 35    
Nov. 30   Portage 4A W 62 52    
Dec. 6 at Hammond 3A L 55 67    
Dec. 7   Hammond Morton 4A W 67 43    
Dec. 13   East Chicago Central 4A W 70 48    
Dec. 20 at Crown Point 4A W 41 28    
Dec. 26 N Griffith 3A W 63 40   tournament
Dec. 26 at Highland 4A W 55 38   tournament
Dec. 28 N Winner Game 8 7:30 pm   tournament
Jan. 3   Lake Central 4A 7:00 pm    
Jan. 11 at Kankakee Valley 3A © 7:00 pm    
Jan. 16   Highland 4A © 7:00 pm    
Jan. 18 at Merrillville 4A 7:00 pm    
Jan. 21   Michigan City 4A 7:00 pm    
Jan. 25 at Hobart 4A © 7:00 pm    
Jan. 31 at Lowell 4A © 7:00 pm    
Feb. 1 at Valparaiso 4A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 6   Griffith 3A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 14 at Gary West 4A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 15   Chesterton 4A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 21   Andrean 2A © 7:00 pm    
Feb. 25 at Hammond Clark 3A 7:00 pm    
Feb. 28   LaPorte 4A 7:00 pm    
© NORTHWEST CROSSROADS CONFERENCE GAME

NOBLESVILLE TOURNAMENT
DATE GM SCHEDULE (EASTERN TIME) SITE ROUND
Dec. 27 1 Fort Wayne Blackhawk vs. Chesterton, 11 am Noblesville First round
Dec. 27 2 Andrean vs. Northridge, 12:45 pm Noblesville First round
Dec. 27 3 Crown Point at Noblesville, 2:30 pm Noblesville First round
Dec. 27 4 Columbus North vs. New Albany, 4:15 pm Noblesville First round
Dec. 27 5 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6 pm Noblesville Consolation
Dec. 27 6 Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 7:45 pm Noblesville Consolation
Dec. 28 7 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 am Noblesville Semifinal
Dec. 28 8 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 12:45 pm Noblesville Semifinal
Dec. 28 9 Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:30 pm Noblesville 7th place
Dec. 28 10 Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 4:15 pm Noblesville 5th place
Dec. 28 11 Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 pm Noblesville 3rd place
Dec. 28 12 Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:45 pm Noblesville 1st place
 
DUNELAND
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
  CONF AG OA DA AM Streak
Chesterton 0-  0 7-  0 60.3 44.3 16.0 Won 7
Michigan City 0-  0 6-  1 76.3 59.7 16.6 Won 4
Valparaiso 0-  0 5-  1 60.5 50.3 10.2 Won 4
Lake Central 0-  0 4-  2 59.8 50.3 9.5 Won 1
LaPorte 0-  0 4-  3 63.0 61.7 1.3 Won 1
Merrillville 0-  0 3-  4 62.4 64.7 -2.3 Lost 3
Crown Point 0-  0 2-  3 50.6 55.4 -4.8 Lost 2
Portage 0-  0 2-  4 52.3 50.5 1.8 Lost 2
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Chesterton 57, EC Central 30
Griffith 58, Merrillville 51
Lowell 76, Portage 49
Valparaiso 63, Washington Twp. 36
Thursday, Dec. 19
Michigan City 79, EC Central 50
Friday, Dec. 20
Chesterton 50, 21st Century 48
Crispus Attucks 79, Merrillville 60
Munster 41, Crown Point 28
Adams 68, LaPorte 47
Saturday, Dec. 21
Chesterton 59, Washington 45
Lake Central 74, Morton 39
LaPorte 74, Knox 44
Michigan City 85, Penn 77, OT
Valparaiso 74, Memorial 69
Friday, Dec. 27
Lake Central vs. Gavit, noon, Highland
Merrillville vs. New Haven, 11 am, Huntington
Warren Central vs. Merrillville, 7 pm, Huntington
Valparaiso vs. Jeffersonville, 11 am, Kokomo
Blackhawk vs. Chesterton, 10 am, Noblesville
Crown Point at Noblesville, 1:30 pm, Noblesville
Portage vs. Greensburg, 2 pm, Richmond
Saturday, Dec. 28
LaPorte vs. St. Joseph, 9:45 am, Logansport
LaPorte at Logansport, 2:45 pm, Logansport
Friday, Jan. 3
Kankakee Valley at Crown Point, 7 pm
Lake Central at Munster, 7 pm
Valparaiso at Warsaw, 7 pm
Saturday, Jan. 4
Crown Point at West Lafayette, 6 pm
Lafayette Jeff at LaPorte, 3:30 pm
Portage at Wheeler, 7 pm
Valparaiso at Hobart, 7 pm
© Conference game