SPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019 | nwi.com | SECTION B

GIRLS Times reporters Playoff basketball primer analyze the top sectionals in NWI

JAMES BOYD However, Times sports writers Coaches Association poll, starts Freshman point guard Jessica Alyna Santiago and Lilly Stoddard. [email protected], James Boyd and Robbie Weinstein its postseason journey against the Carrothers leads the Bulldogs with “There’s been so many fi rsts this 219-933-3268Robbie Weinsteinrobert. have a breakdown of all the big host Red Devils on Wednesday. The 22.0 points per game on 51 percent year for a lot of our younger kids,” [email protected], 219-933-4198 games so you’ll be ready whenever Times No. 1 Bulldogs defeated all shooting, but Crown Point’s de- Seibert said. “Postseason-wise, Given the freezing cold weather they tip. six potential sectional opponents fense has been its strongest attri- we’ve won a game here or there, but that’s in the forecast, it was uncer- in the regular season en route to a bute. Head coach Chris Seibert’s for the most part, a lot of these kids, tain at press time when all the girls Class 4A—Lowell 23-0 record and Duneland Athletic squad has allowed only 33.7 points it’s their fi rst experience.” basketball sectional games will take Undefeated Crown Point, ranked Conference title, with all of those per game despite leaning heavily place. fi fth in the Indiana Basketball wins coming by 23 points or more. on underclassmen like Carrothers, Please see BASKETBALL, Page B3

MEN’S BASKETBALL HAMMOND SPORTS HALL OF FAME Smits set to play Tuesday vs Bears Rudy Skorupa Larry Hines Jr. Albert Carpen PAUL OREN Times Correspondent VALPARAISO — The Val- paraiso men’s basketball team is getting one of its stars back for Tuesday night’s Missouri Valley Conference tilt against Missouri State at the Athletics-Recreation . That still leaves coach Matt Lottich trying to fi gure out what to do to make up for the loss of his two other leading scorers. Lottich confi rmed on Mon- day morning that Derrik Smits missed Saturday’s game against Drake with a back injury, but Lot- tich expects to have the redshirt junior center back on the court against the Bears on Tuesday. “I don’t expect (the injury) to Dan Hernandez Steve Runyon Randall J. Lewis James R. Murphy be a lingering issue,” Lottich said later in the afternoon shortly be- fore the Crusaders took the prac- tice fl oor. Smits practiced Monday, but was not made available to the local media in attendance. The news on leading The call to the hall scorer Ryan Fazekas and the Please see MENS BASKETBALL, Page B3 7 Hammond greats plaques. Runyon and Morton track and Family Distinguished Athlete The Hall will host its 33rd fi eld athlete Rudy Skorupa, who Award for their achievement, will be inducted in annual induction dinner pro- went on to become Lake Cen- dedication, citizenship and If you go gram on March 12 at the Ham- tral’s longtime track and cross service. This year’s recipients Who: March 12 ceremony mond Civic Center to honor the country coach. are Morton’s Hannah Hammar, Valparaiso University following former high school They will be joining the likes of Bishop Noll’s Megan Sullivan and men’s basketball vs. Missouri RYAN NILSSON standouts: Clark baseball player Chaney, who won the 1975 World Gavit’s Jamari Washington. State [email protected], 219-933-3233 Albert Carpen, Clark football Series with Cincinnati and Hoff - Short bios of the seven Hall When: 7 p.m. Tuesday ove over Darrel Chaney. player Dan Hernandez, Ham- mann, who played professional of Fame inductees and the three Where: Make room Jeri L. Hoff - mond hurdler and sprinter Larry women’s basketball and was the Distinguished Athlete Award re- Athletics-Recreation mann. Hines Jr., Hammond cross coun- fi rst female inductee. cipients follow. All information Center, Valparaiso M The Hammond try and middle distance track In addition, the Hall will rec- was provided by the Hammond Radio: WVUR-FM (95.1); WJOB Sports Hall of Fame’s inductee runner Randall J. Lewis, Ham- ognize three 2018 graduates of Sports Hall of Fame. (1230 AM/104.7 FM) display inside the city’s civic mond diver James R. Murphy, Hammond high schools with the center is about to add seven new Hammond football player Steve 28th annual Anderson-Peterson Please see HOF, Page B3

SPORTS MEDICINE Musings on pro athlete injuries No magic fix yet foot. (Sesamoid was whether or not the team bones are imbed- knew of the Boise State prod- when players hurt ded in tendon. The uct’s discomfort before playing patella or kneecap him 41 minutes against Los JOHN DOHERTY is the body’s larg- Angeles. Sports Medicine est. Those in the A Bulls press release said that unday brought another foot are small, sit- Hutchison will be in a walking headline that few will no- ting side-by-side JOHN boot for 2-4 weeks. That means S DOHERTY tice in a lost season: “Foot in the ball of the he will be sidelined longer than injury to sideline Hutchison 2-4 foot.) that. An injured bone may be weeks.” Just the night “healed” but one does not get For those who don’t know before, he had posted a dou- out of walking boot or cast and who Hutchison is, he is Bulls ble-double in a loss against jump right back into the lineup. MATT MARTON, ASSOCIATED PRESS rookie forward Chandler the Clippers. However, the The immobilized joint must re- forward Chandler Hutchison, front, releases a shot next to Hutchison. An MRI on Satur- injury apparently occurred on gain range of motion, strength center Dewayne Dedmon during the fi rst half Wednesday in day revealed an injury to one of Wednesday in a loss against the Chicago. Hutchison injured one of two sesamoid bones in his right foot in the two sesamoid bones in his right Hawks. Left unsaid by the Bulls Please see DOHERTY, Page B4 game. Start in Need Extra Money 3 Days for a Special Event? or Less! Earn up to $300 per week

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