Wheatfield IN. Culver makes the trek out to Kankakee Valley for the third time in the week to take on the defending sectional champions, the New Prairie Cougars. New Prairie is coming off a surprise win against Knox, while Culver is coming off a commanding victory over Wheeler.
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Culver wasted no time in getting the game rolling and jumped to a huge lead in the first-quarter. The Eagles went on an 18-point run to start the quarter and firmly put themselves in position to win the game.
Amir Gates scored two from the line to open the game.
Thomas Collins then banged in a three, before
Jokubas Skurdenis forced a turnover in which
Cooper Farrall scored in transition. Skurdenis would get his own bucket soon after, and
Daley Stein would get his first bucket off a stolen pass from Collins. Another steal by Skurdenis set up Collins for his second three of the quarter and kept up the pressure with two steals of his own which led to two scores. New Prairie finally got a bucket, but
Andrew Macheca got the points back with two makes from the free throw line. Collins and Farrall each made a three at the end of the quarter, with a New Prairie bucket in-between to give Culver a 22-point lead, with a score of 26-4 at the end of the first quarter.
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New Prairie held Culver's offense and managed to get a score of their own in the opening minute of the second-quarter, but Culver wouldn't be held for long. Farrall knocked in back-to-back threes after that, and, after a cold spell from both offenses, Collins scored a fourth three of the contest. New Prairie got their second score of the quarter, but
Fola Fayemi responded with a bucket of his own right before the end of the half. Culver led at half, 37-8.
New Prairie managed to score a bit more in the second-half, but they couldn't stop Culver's offense enough to try and mount a comeback. Farrall started with a trip to the line. He made the first, then got his own rebound off the second and put it back in for two. New Prairie scored on the next possession, and then got to the line where they hit one of two. Gates scored on a dribble drive in the lane and drew a foul where he converted the and-one. Fayemi scored quickly after in transition thanks to a steal by Skurdenis. Collins hit another three on their next possession and, after a score by New Prairie, Skurdenis scored on a put-back. New Prairie made a three with seconds to go in the quarter, but Fayemi managed to get to the line where he made one of two. Culver took their increasing lead into the fourth quarter where they would seal the game. Culver led after three 51-16.
Fayemi opened scoring in the final quarter with a score from the post. New Prairie got one of two from the free throw line, but a steal from Gates gave Skurdenis a transition bucket. Gates would then score himself in the half-court before the Cougars would make their first three of the game. Stein was fouled and went to the line where he hit one of two free throws. Farrall added two more, and Fayemi added four at the end of the game while New Prairie hit two threes as Culver takes home the championship, 64-26.
Culver advances to the regional round where they will face off against Peru on Saturday at 12:00 at South Bend Washington. Should they win that, they will take on the winner of Mishawaka Marian and Gary Lighthouse at 8:00pm the same day. This win gives Culver their sixth sectional title and their fifth title in six years.
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