The Chesterton Trojans defeated the Merrillville Pirates 53-42 in a Duneland Athletic Conference boys’ basketball matchup on Saturday night. The game marked the first in a slate of upcoming DAC battles for both teams, and served as a showcase for the tough competition facing every conference member.
For most of the game, the Trojans and Pirates remained deadlocked, with both teams struggling to build more than a three point lead. Chesterton finally broke through towards the end of the 3rd quarter thanks in large part to solid shooting from behind the arc, and well-rounded defensive play that kept the Pirates out of their basket.
“When you get into the Duneland games, everything gets tougher and better scouted” said Marc Urban, head coach for the Trojans. “We’ve got a long way to go, but I really like this group.”
Chesterton was missing senior Sean Elliot, a key part of their squad, but star junior Travis Grayson stepped up and led the team with 23 points.
“Travis Grayson was elite tonight,” Urban said. “He did a little bit of everything. He did a great job defensively. He was able to get downhill in the 3rd and 4th quarters, make the right read and shoot some 3’s, and that’s why I think he’s a special player.”
The Trojans' next matchup is an away game against the Hobart Brickies on Wednesday, while the Pirates are set to play Crown Point at home on Friday.