MICHIGAN CITY | This is why it's called Hoosier Hysteria.
Portage, entering the Class 4A Michigan City Sectional at 3-18 without a single win in the Duneland Athletic Conference, figured to have little chance Wednesday against the host Wolves, fresh off a resounding victory over Valparaiso.
Final score: Portage 47, Michigan City 36.
"The beauty of Indiana high school basketball is when the sectional starts, everybody is 0-0," Indians coach Rick Snodgrass said. "These kids have never quit working all year. It's a testament to them. They've been close all year. They never stopped believing they could win. We beat a team as hot as any around. I can't tell you how huge a win it is for the program. I'm very happy for Portage. Most importantly, we get to play on Friday night."
The Indians (4-18) will face Merrillville, which used a 22-3 first-quarter blitz to run off Hobart, 73-39.
Portage went up 28-26 in the third on a Steve Perry 3-pointer and never trailed again, repeatedly scoring on dribble drives to pull away. City (11-11) managed just three points over the final 4:18.
"Defense has always been our staple," Snodgrass said. "We don't have a high-powered offense, but if you play consistent defense, you have a chance, and our defense was outstanding. The only difference was we made key shots and key free throws. When the opportunity was there, we wanted to (drive), under control. We also hit a couple 3s, which opens up everybody."
Dominique Walton scored 15 points, 10 in the second quarter, when Portage overcame a 16-10 deficit. He also locked up City's Adam Harmon, who managed just eight points.
"Without Adam, they couldn't do anything," Walton said. "Nobody thought we could win. We just put everything on the floor. I don't know what else to say."
Damonte Lowery added 10 for the Indians.
In the opener, Merrillville (18-3) ran off the first 12 points, turning the overmatched Brickies over 10 times in that stretch.
"I thought we played hard, particularly on the defensive end, which is all you can certainly ask," Pirates coach Jim East said. "Sometimes, it's difficult when you've just beaten a team by 28 points a week-and-a-half ago. We were better than them and if we played hard, that would show up. You keep pressuring the ball, good things are going to happen."
Hobart coughed it up 25 times in all, overshadowing a 9-of-13 3-point shooting performance.
"They're a fantastic team," Brickies coach Mike Black said. "They have a weakness, but obviously we couldn't figure out what it was. They shoot well, they defend well. They play their tail off. We wanted to try to control the ball, but you can't do it when you throw it to them all the time. They're at a different level than we are."
Ten Pirates scored, led by Jeremiah Jones' 16. Rico Spikes added a dozen to go with five of Merrillville's 15 steals.
Robert Woods topped the Brickies (5-16) with 14, while Matthew Brown notched 12. Both hit four 3s.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class 4A Michigan City Sectional
First Round
Merrillville 73, Hobart 39
Portage 47, Michigan City 36
