The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: West Lafayette VS Western (Photo Gallery)
Richard R. Rea Gymnasium has hosted numerous instant classics, and this week’s Kokomo Post Sports Game of the Week was no exception.
Western hosted West Lafayette in the Hoosier Conference championship, where the Panthers shocked the Red Devils with a 54-50 victory to claim the title.
Western set the pace early, slowing the game down to disrupt West Lafayette’s high-scoring offense, which averaged 63.8 points per game. The Panthers led 14-12 after the first quarter.
The defense intensified in the second quarter, as Western held West Lafayette without a point until 2:08 remained in the half. Despite struggling offensively, the Panthers went into halftime with a 22-16 lead.
The game picked up offensively in the second half, with Western’s Carter Biggs and West Lafayette’s Ben Werth leading the charge. Biggs maneuvered through the Red Devils’ defense with his versatile scoring, while Werth’s hot shooting kept West Lafayette within reach.
Brycen Rucker’s defense was crucial, particularly his ability to contain 6-foot-10 Kevo St. Hilaire.
Werth made several clutch shots in the fourth quarter, including a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with eight seconds left. However, Western’s elite clock management in the final moments sealed the win and the Hoosier Conference crown.
