The South Bend Riley Wildcats (19-6) and Gary West Side Cougars (21-4) clashed on the Michigan City High School Basketball Court for the IHSAA Class 4A Basketball Regional Championship.
The Cougars, coached by Chris Buggs, won the tip off gaining possession. Their player, #13 Jalen Washington, successfully scored a three-point basket putting the Cougars on the scoreboard. The Wildcats, coached by Alex Daniel, wasted no time joining the scoreboard when #0 Blake Wesly answered with a two-point basket of his own.
An exciting moment came when #10 Crishawn Christmas slam dunked a basket for the Cougars. The Wildcats seemed to be down until #5 Phillip Robles scored repeat baskets tying the Wildcats up with the Cougars. At the end of the first quarter, South Bend Riley had the lead with a score of Wildcats 18 points, Cougars 15 points.
The second quarter was similar to the first with the Wildcats scoring eight points to the Cougar’s seven. The quarter ended with a score of Wildcats 26 points, Cougars 22 points.
In the third quarter the action heated-up for the Cougars who were within four points of the Wildcats for much of the quarter. Cougar’s #13 Washington brought the team within two points early on, but the Wildcat’s #0 Wesley answered with a three-point basket putting the score at Wildcats 29 points, Cougars 24 points.
It seemed as if the Wildcats would clinch the third quarter much like the first two when #1 Quimari Peterson of the Cougars successfully scored a three-point basket putting his team in the lead. Peterson would have a trio of successful three-point baskets that quarter. South Bend briefly tied the game back up, but in an impressive over the shoulder two-point basket, #13 Washington put the Cougars back ahead. It was as if that moment was what his team needed. The Cougars would score again ending the quarter Cougars 42 points, Wildcats 38 points.
At the top of the fourth quarter, Cougar fans were standing in unison cheering and urging their team on. Not to be outdone, the Wildcat fans began cheering giving the fourth quarter an energetic start. Within seconds of the quarter starting, the Cougars struck, successfully scoring and widening their lead. Despite the efforts of #0 Blake Wesley and #5 Phillip Robles, the Wildcats could not recover. The Gary Westside Cougars won with a final score of Cougars 58 points, Wildcats 43 points.
Gary Westside Cougars took home the regional title, advancing to the state playoffs where they will take on the Carmel Greyhounds on March 20.