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Trojans stay sharp vs. Hobart, win 64-40

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Jalen Watts attacks the rim in a 64-40 on conference win over Hobart on Saturday.

Tom Keegan
onwardtrojans.com

​The morning after his team’s near-upset vs. Crown Point, the state’s second-ranked school, Chesterton coach Marc Urban looked for signs of an emotional letdown at shoot-around. He didn’t see any and the Trojans didn’t display any in scoring a 64-40 win over visiting Hobart on senior night Saturday.
“Even though we lost last night and obviously it was a very competitive, intense game, we came in this morning we had to turn the page and get geared back up,” Urban said. “I thought our guys did a good job of coming out and executing. You don’t want to take steps back. We took some good steps forward.”
The team looked fresh and focused. Hobart had an eight-point run late in the third quarter, interrupted by Peyton Tarnowski’s 3-point buzzer beater, and scored the last nine points of the game. Outside of those two stretches, Chesterton outscored the Brickies, 64-23.
“That was probably the biggest thing for us was to be able to keep growing as a basketball team,” Urban said of the lopsided win. “Throughout every game of the season, through everything we’ve been through, we just keep growing and maturing individually and as a team. That’s a good test to be able to turn the page quickly and then execute the right way. I was pleased with that.”
Junior Jaylon Watts, repeatedly pulling rebounds off the defensive glass and tearing down the middle of the court for coast-to-coast scores, led the way with 19 points. Rapidly emerging sophomore Malachi Watts contributed 10 points and six assists and reserve guard Anthony Gonzalez made the senior night he shared with reserve center Robert Williams a memorable one.
From the stands, some guards look even faster dribbling than when running the floor without the ball. NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd was perhaps the best example.
On Saturday night, Watts appeared that way.
“He was really good tonight,” Ransom said. “When he gets that rebound, he’s sonic getting up the court. He’s fast, but I’ve never seen him that fast.”
Watts said he sometimes feels faster with the ball in his hands.
“It’s something with the ball I guess,” Watts said. “It just helps me get faster.”
Watts and Ransom were far from alone among Trojans guards having big nights.
Tarnowski contributed five points and scrappy defense off the bench, and Gonzalez went on a personal eight-point tear in the third quarter, pumping the Trojans’ lead to 45-22. On consecutive possessions, Gonzalez stole the ball and took it in for a bucket, buried a 3-pointer and made another 3-pointer.
“I thought he was going to go off for five (3-pointers) tonight. I really did,” Urban said. “Once he gets in rhythm, he can do that.”
Williams didn’t score, but almost did on a hook shot that glanced off the rim. He could have put up another shot, but passed to an open teammate for a better shot.
Chesterton’s increased depth at the guard spot has been a factor in Gonzalez’s playing time not quite matching last season’s. Also, with Tyler Parrish not in the lineup driving to the lane to draw multiple defenders, not as many open 3-pointers have been available for Gonzalez to contribute his chief offensive asset. His gritty defense earns him minutes as well.
Gonzalez had a big night against the Brickies and is a player Urban doesn’t hesitate to bring off the bench in big spots.
“I like doing senior night in the middle of the season because when you do it at the end of the season it always feels like it’s the end and I don’t want it to feel like the end,” Urban said. “Anthony’s leading in a really good way, where this past week he was up in TJ (Tobias Ray), guarding him just like he was tonight, full speed, understanding he’s trying to get us the best look possible, so we’re prepared going into the game. Same thing with Robert. Robert does whatever you ask him.”
Whereas Gonzalez is in the rotation, most of Williams’ contributions come in practice.
“Having two guys who bring value to the program like that with younger guys playing ahead of them, when the attitude doesn’t change, that’s why we have a chance to be good when you have good kids in the program,” Urban said. “It’s what’s going to allow us to keep getting better is them embracing their role in how we practice. And Anthony comes in for us and does some really good stuff for us and you need that spark plug sometimes.”
Gonzalez plays a big role in some games, a much smaller role in others, but that hasn’t prevented him from bringing it daily in practice, according to teammates.
“Ant does a really good job of gurding me, Jaylon, TJ,” Ransom said. “He makes us better. Peyton brings the energy, he brings the defense, he does the same thing Ant does.”
Added Watts of the practice habits of the players who come off the bench: “Oh my gosh, they do a lot. Their attitude is amazing. Even in practice, when we go against each other, they help us all get better and they always bring the energy There are times we can be down on ourselves, and they’ll be those leaders who really help us. It helps a lot.”

Hobart 6 10 14 10–40
Chesterton 14 14 20 16–64

Chesterton scoring: Tobias Ray 6, Malachi Ransom 10, Jaylon Watts 19, Logan Pokorney 4, Caden Schneider 6, Anthony Gonzalez 8, Gunner Ello 4, Peyton Tarnowski 5, Robert Williams 0, Tommy Kostbade 2, Mike Rone 0.

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