Adams, No. 12 Penn Use Fast Starts to Reach Sectional Finals

Fast starts were the name of the game in Mishawaka as South Bend Adams and No. 12 Penn advanced to the Penn Sectional title game after lopsided semifinal wins on Feb. 6. Adams topped South Bend Riley 48-32, while the Kingsmen rolled past LaPorte 56-28, leaving a clear favorite and an underdog with momentum heading into Saturday night's showdown.

Adams raced to a 17-6 first-quarter advantage against Riley and led 34-18 at halftime. Sophomore Destiny Perry scored 10 first-quarter points and finished with 13 for the Eagles, who converted the early burst into a steady lead. Riley struggled with ball security, turning the ball over on its first three possessions and committing eight turnovers in the opening frame, a self-inflicted handicap in a low-scoring contest. The game report also noted the Eagles "led 34-18 at halftime despite 20 turnovers in the second period." Adams closed the game 48-32 to improve to 11-8, while Riley finished its season at 8-16. The two teams had split their regular-season meetings, with Adams winning 55-52 on Jan. 3 and Riley edging Adams 61-60 on Jan. 16, adding extra local intrigue to the sectional matchup.

First-year Adams coach Maurice Scott Jr. framed the win as a payoff for discipline and collective focus. "We did what we were supposed to do tonight," said Scott, who was an assistant to his father Maurice last year for the Adams girls program. "We played as a team and we kept our composure tonight, which is something we've had trouble with at times this season." Scott's arc from Riley standout to assistant and now sectional-winning head coach adds a layer of narrative to Adams' run.

Penn asserted why it was the prohibitive favorite early and often. The No. 12-ranked and overwhelming sectional favorite Kingsmen once again looked the part as they rolled to a quick and commanding lead from the opening tipoff to down LaPorte 56-28. Penn enters the sectional final at 23-3 after a regular-season blowout of Adams, 67-21 on Dec. 19, and a perfect 7-0 mark to claim the Northern Indiana Conference title. Individual scoring lines from the Penn-LaPorte game were not provided in the game report, but Penn’s overall efficiency and depth were evident in the margin.

Adams (11-8) meets Penn (23-3) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday back at Penn to play for the sectional title. The winner then advances to a regional site to be determined by the IHSAA on Feb. 14 to play the winner of the Munster Sectional. For fans, Saturday offers a classic small-school testing ground: can Adams ride Perry’s scoring flashes and Scott Jr.’s steady leadership to an upset, or will Penn’s league dominance and depth carry the Kingsmen onward into the regional bracket? The sectional title will quickly sort which story continues into postseason play.