ST. JOHN | Lake Central knows it just like everyone else does.
Glenn Robinson III isn't walking through the door, so at least for now, the Indians are going to have to grind out wins, which is exactly what they did Friday against Valparaiso.
Heavily-recruited junior center Tyler Wideman notched a double-double with game-highs of 11 points and 11 rebounds in Times No. 1 L.C.'s 50-45 victory over the No. 6 Vikings in the teams' Duneland Athletic Conference opener.
The first quarter was marred by bad shooting for Valpo, as it only had two baskets in the period -- two jumpers by senior forward Quentin Palmer.
LC (2-1, 1-0 DAC) was able to take advantage of the poor shooting, as it went on an 11-2 run to start the game, including five points each from Wideman and Joe Bannister.
Down 21-9 with 6:08 left in the half, Valpo guard Zach Meyer re-entered the game and sparked a rally for the Vikings (2-1, 0-1) by scoring all six of his first-half points. That highlighted a 10-4 run for the visitors and cut the LC lead to six.
The Vikings were held to just one field goal in the third quarter. The momentum appeared to swing the Indians' way as southpaw Robert Ryan drove in for an open layup to give them a 12-point lead heading into the fourth.
But Valpo stormed back with a 12-2 run to open the final quarter, during which it scored 20 points.
After a couple jumpers by Bannister and another by Wideman, the Indians were able to maintain their lead by hitting seven of their last 11 foul shots.
Bannister matched Wideman with 11 points, while junior guard Bret Boetel paced Valpo with 11.
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