CROWN POINT, IN (1-28-2005) - In a finesse game where both sides had more three-point baskets than turnovers, Crown Point got the short end of the stick.

First, it appeared the Bulldogs were going to lose to Valparaiso because they weren't good enough. Then, it looked as if CP was going to win because they deserved to.

Finally, the worst case scenario. CP lost and they don't know why.

Leading 60-50 with 1:58 to play, the Bulldogs were the victim of turnovers, missed free throws and a stunning Valpo rally falling 65-62 in a roller-coaster Duneland Athletic Conference game Friday.

“I don't really have a good answer as to why we won this game,” admitted long time Valparaiso coach Bob Punter. He wasn't alone.

In many ways, Crown Point, after trailing 10-0 and 21-13 in the first quarter, the Bulldogs (8-6) played some of their finest ball of the season. Led by senior point guard Mark Patrick (13 points, 6 assists), the Bulldogs took control to the extent that a free throw by 6-2 senior Seth Henderson made the score 60-50 with 1:58 left.

But Valparaiso (12-2) mounted a last minute rally. Senior Jon Moon and backup forward Paul Coburn hit back-to-back three-point field goals around a Bulldog backcourt turnover. After Patrick sank two foul shots for a 62-56 lead with 58 seconds left, Moon, Valpo's only returning starter from last season's regional championship team, hit a baseline fade away shot to make it 62-58.

Moon stole the ball in the backcourt and was fouled, sinking two free throws to make it 62-60. After another CP turnover, Coburn, a third string center, fired home a 20-footer off the left wing to make it 63-62 Valpo with 20 seconds to play.

Crown Point pushed the ball up the floor and 6-5 senior Brian Maloney was fouled. Maloney got two shots and missed them both. Coburn was fouled and he sank two foul shots to make it 65-62 with nine seconds left.

Matt Ernest, who had made four second half field goals, was double teamed by Moon and Kyle West, and missed a 25-foot game-tying attempt with one second left and the visitors escaped with the victory.

“I told Paul that I should have had him in there about 30 minutes earlier,” joked Punter. “I hate to see the kids pass up open shots. I don't want to see them hesitate when they're open. Paul has really been out of position all year. We liked to have four post players and he's the fourth. But he's really a forward.”

Coburn hit big shots but Jon Moon, who averages 15 points a game, scored 12 of his game-high 20 in the fourth period. The Vikings football quarterback didn't take many shots in the first half but he took most of them in the final minutes.

“Jon Moon is just a clutch player,” said Punter. “He was a starter last year on a team with nine seniors. He had a big steal and he hit some big shots.”

The dark side of this loss is that CP has now lost double digit (10-points or more) second half leads in three different games. The 8-7 record after 15 games should have been 11-4. But CP's confidence in their ability to close out a game is certainly very low.

Saturday night, Munster built a big early lead and held on to beat CP 53-45. The Bulldogs scored only 15 first half points before the inside-outside combination of Ryan Brown (10 points) and Chachi Albrecht (11 points) closed the gap.

Munster (11-4) had a big advantage in this contest as CP had lost the big lead against Valpo the night before. The Mustangs, who have an all-new starting lineup this year after two 20-win seasons, also had a tough Friday game, a 49-48 win over Highland. The difference between winning and losing the night before was probably evidenced in the Mustangs 37-27 lead after three periods.

Crown Point sank seven three point baskets and have made 35 in their last four games.

CP NOTES:  After three consecutive two-game weekends, the Bulldogs have only one game in the next 10 days, a match at 4A No. 10 Merrillville (12-2) on Friday, Feb. 4. Merrillville outran Porter County Conference leader Boone Grove 75-65 late Saturday night. The Pirates made 18 of 20 free throws and used 10 different players to wear down Boone, which used largely seven boys.

The Pirates' lead guard Josh Mayo, who suffered a sprained ankle in a 60-56 win over Michigan City Friday night, returned to the lineup but was limited had just four points and four assists.

Senior guard Dennis Howell scored 16 for the Pirates, who have won 11 in a row and have lost only two overtime games. Boone (11-4), which has lost three times to Class 4A Duneland Conference schools, got 27 points from 6-4 senior Danny Borys and a career-high 17 from 6-4 junior forward Jon Shurr. Boone defeated 1A No. 8 Kouts 68-56 Friday night.

Merrillville has won 31 of the last 33 meetings with Crown Point going back 18 years. The Pirates have not lost to Crown Point at Merrillville since March of 1998.

CP's schedule lightens up considerably after the Merrillville games with contests against LaPorte (6-9), Portage (5-9), Lowell (2-12) and Chesterton (7-8).

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CROWN POINT (8-7)

Coach: Tom Johnson, 110-81 in 9th year at school, 143-112 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}‡	7:30 pm
Feb. 10	at LaPorte {4A}‡	7:30 pm
Feb. 18	at Portage {4A}‡	7:30 pm
Feb. 19	Lowell {4A}	7:30 pm	7:15 PM
Feb. 25	Chesterton {4A}‡	7:30 pm	7:15 PM
‡DUNELAND CONFERENCE GAME

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Revised: February 02, 2005 .