LaPORTE, IN (2-10-2005) - This was a pivotal game. The crowd was hardly big and the enthusiasm was not at peak level. But this was a fork in the road.

At 8-8 and with three consecutive losses to top teams, Crown Point's Bulldogs badly needed a win on the road at LaPorte to keep their record and possibly, their season, from going south of the border.

LaPorte, at 8-9, also needed a pick-me-up in the final home game before two late tests on the road.

Things went uphill for CP and downhill for LaPorte.

Crown Point led all the way, fought off a late rally and overcame erratic officiating and streaky shooting to prevail 41-38 in a physical Thursday night Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) game in LaPorte county.

The Slicers (8-10), not only lost the last home game of the 2005 season, they also lost 6-2 junior forward Kris Staats, probably for the season, with a leg injury suffered in the third period. As the two sides parted, probably for the season (they are in different sectionals), LaPorte faced the sunset prospect of a third season-ending injury while Crown Point might be looking at the sun rise on the horizon.

“I thought we took a step in the right direction,” said coach Tom Johnson. “Conference on the road is tough. You knew that even when we got ahead 19-5, LaPorte was going to come back. They're always good for a run or two no matter how they're playing.”

Leading 35-26 at the top of the fourth quarter, it appeared that things were starting to fall apart. Troy Tonagel's three-point shot started a 9-2 run that closed the gap as CP committed six fourth quarter turnovers and missed some open shots.

The Bulldogs have lost leads of 10 points or more in the fourth quarter twice this season, to Valparaiso and Lake Central, and it looked like they might lose this one as Tonagel split a zone defense with a quick drive for a 37-34 layup. Chachi Albrecht was called for a rebounding foul that could have gone against LaPorte's Airrence Shark and Shark's foul shot made it 37-35 with 1:54 to go.

But CP went to a spread delay attack and effectively stalled away more than a minute before Albrecht was fouled. The CP senior sank two foul shots. LaPorte's Jon Burger missed a three-point attempt and Tonagel traveled when he grabbed the rebound.

Two foul shots by Mark Patrick finished the scoring with 10 seconds to play.

LaPorte was just 8-of-26 from three-point range and they did not shoot well in general. The Slicers, who lost 6-8 senior center Josh Corey to a knee injury in the pre-season (he did not play all season) could not get any inside attack going and the Bulldogs defended the three-point shot well. The Slicers switching defenses challenged CP to change their focus, from Ryan Brown early (8 first quarter points) to an 11-4 third quarter run where Sam and Seth Henderson combined for eight points.

“I'm very pleased,” said Johnson, “There's been some times this year and not just in the last couple of weeks, when it could have been easy for them to drop their heads and say, 'Oh, well' but they haven't done that.”

“Obviously we struggled to score,' said LaPorte coach Tom Wells. “We got a little better at it as the game progressed, but not enough to get over the hump. Down 14 early, it was a credit to our kids to battle back to pull within two. They did a good job defensively. We had some shots finally go in. Shooting is something we do. Obviously 26 (three-point shots) is a high number but that's not high for us.”

“We weren't open for long periods of time in the post. They're a little bigger and a little stronger up front.”

This was far from an impressive performance, although CP continues to be an effective defensive team. CP did not score a field goal in the final period and they went scoreless for four minutes in the second quarter before Albrecht hit a three-point shot with two seconds left ion the half.

But this game was all about the results. The Bulldogs could have shot 60% and forced 50 turnovers but had CP lost to an injury-depleted sub-.500 team, it would have been a major blow just two weeks before the state tournament. The Bulldogs' losing streak included defeats by three points to Valparaiso (16-2), by eight to Munster (13-4) and 47-45 to Merrillville (15-2) in a nine day span. Two of those games were contests the Bulldogs lost fourth quarter leads. Add earlier losses to Lake Central and Michigan City (where CP led by 14 in the first half) and the Bulldogs arguably should be 13-4 instead of 9-8.

“You can't do that,' Johnson commented. “You can't keep looking back. From the start of the year, we're looking to be playing our best at the end of the season. The ones you let slip away you have to write them off as learning experiences.”

BULLDOG NOTES:  Kris Staats was injured when he tried to block the path of CP's Matt Ernest on a stop-and-go baseline drive with 1:13 to go in the third quarter. There was an off balance collision and Staats had to be helped off the floor and into the locker room.

LaPorte's Tom Wells said after the game, “He's in the hospital getting examined. He said he had pain all the way up his leg. He's a football player. Some other kids, maybe when they go down you wonder how badly they are hurt. But not with Kris.”

Tom Johnson commented, “I didn't see it. I was worried about my guy landing on his neck. I certainly hope he (Staats) is okay. Staats is a nice player.”

Sam Henderson has 34 three-point goals in 17 games while Chachi Albrecht has 28. Mark Patrick has 57 assists in 17 games.

Crown Point's final three games are against Portage (6-11), Lowell (2-15) and Chesterton (7-10). The records of Portage and Chesterton are deceptive, both having lost twice to Merrillville (15-2) and Valparaiso (16-2), but CP needs top performances in all of those games heading into the playoffs.

“I'm just thinking about Portage,” said Johnson, wary of his team's ups and downs. “The Indians are next and that's all we're concerned with.” The game at Portage on Feb. 18 is CP's final road game. CP's home game with Lowell is the final home Saturday contest.

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CROWN POINT (11-8)

Coach: Tom Johnson, 113-82 in 9th year at school, 146-113 in 12th year overall

DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT/ TIME	USA-365.com Broadcast Time
Nov. 27	at Griffith {3A}	W, 66-36
Dec. 3	LaPorte {4A}‡	W, 69-57	7:15 PM
Dec. 10	at Lake Central {4A}‡	L, 61-64
Dec. 14	at Valparaiso {4A}‡	L, 35-55
Dec. 17	Michigan City {4A}‡	L, 51-55	7:15 PM
Dec. 28	Merrillville {4A}‡	L, 53-67	7:15 PM
Dec. 30	at Hammond Gavit {3A}	W, 47-35
Jan. 4	Portage {4A}‡	W, 56-47	7:15 PM
Jan. 7	at Chesterton {4A}‡	L, 36-45
Jan. 14	Lake Central {4A}‡	W, 59-38	7:15 PM
Jan. 15	at South Bend Adams {4A}	W, 36-35
Jan. 21	at Michigan City {4A}‡	W, 67-60
Jan. 24	East Chicago Central {4A}	W, 68-63
Jan. 28	Valparaiso {4A}‡	L, 62-65	7:15 PM
Jan. 29	at Munster {4A}	L, 45-53	7:15 PM
Feb. 4	at Merrillville {4A}‡	L, 45-47
Feb. 10	at LaPorte {4A}‡	W, 41-38
Feb. 18	at Portage {4A}‡	W, 72-48
Feb. 19	Lowell {4A}	W, 75-33	7:15 PM
Feb. 25	Chesterton {4A}‡	7:30 PM	7:15 PM
Mar. 4	Chesterton at Merrillville Sectional Semifinals	7:30 PM	5:45 PM
Mar. 5	Merrillville Sectional Championship	7:30 PM	7:15 PM
‡DUNELAND CONFERENCE GAME

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Revised: February 22, 2005 .