MICHIGAN CITY | Few could find a parking space and a ticket was even a little tough last Saturday as Times No. 2 Merrillville hosted top-ranked Andrean, losing a heart-breaker in overtime.
The atmosphere was complete different Tuesday night in Michigan City. Tumbleweed in the bleachers. More yawns than screams. Almost like a Saturday morning practice with the gym doors locked.
'We have a lot of seniors on this team,” Merrillville coach T.J. Lux said. “It was important to see how this group responded after a tough loss in a rivalry game. I think they responded.”
The Pirates pounded the Wolves 71-45 in a Duneland Athletic Conference game.
The Pirates (5-1, 3-0) did not open strong, struggling in the first quarter. Turnovers and poor fouls slowed the Purple Machine, but Jenkins hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter for an ugly 16-8 lead.
Then, it was all over as Merrillville's defense filled the gym with fury as the Pirates beat the Wolves (2-3, 1-2) for the 12th consecutive time. Michigan City had 31 turnovers.
Jenkins had a game-high 18 points with 10 steals and six assists.
“I do whatever I have to to help the team,” Jenkins said. “It's not about me it's about Merrillville.”
Lux was also impressed by the play of senior Darion Williams, who came off the bench to score 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Merrillville's Jelani Pruitt scored 13, Zoran Talley had nine and Isaiah Wilson added eight.
Anthony Simmons led the Wolves with 11 points.
“What you saw out there was John Boyd's fault,” Boyd' Michigan City's coach, said. “You can look in a person's eyes and tell. We had that deer in the headlight look.”
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