INDIANAPOLIS — Coach Marc Urban motioned for the sizable contingent of Chesterton fans to get loud as he made a mass substitution with 1:40 left.
They obliged.
This time, there was no dramatic comeback for Chesterton.
The Trojans, making their first appearance in a state championship game, lost 65-31 to Indianapolis Cathedral in the Class 4A final at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
“I’m so proud of our guys,” Urban said. “They do things the right way. They work hard. They’re so much fun to be around.
“It stinks, trust me. This is not how you wanted it to go down. But in the same breath, I’m proud to coach these guys. I’m proud of our community traveling the way they did. It’s been an amazing ride, an amazing experience. These guys gave me a chance to coach in the state championship. It’s only something you dream of. I owe these guys a lot.”
Travis Grayson, Chesterton’s star senior point guard, was almost inconsolable after the game. He had five points and seven rebounds, missing all 10 of his shots from the field.
“What I realize, I have to improve my game,” Grayson said. “I have to evolve. Just being able to drive, that’s not going to work at the next level. I feel like I’ve disappointed my team because I wasn’t able to do much. It hurts.
“I couldn’t do what I usually do. … I couldn’t get it done. I apologize. I just couldn’t get it done, and I really wanted to get that done. It happens.”
Top-ranked and previously undefeated Chesterton (29-1), which won the program’s first regional and semistate titles, had several near-misses with its unblemished record during the season, always managing to find a way. But the Trojans couldn’t muster another second-half rally against Cathedral (26-6).
The Irish led 10-0 with 6:29 left in the first quarter before Chesterton sophomore guard Tyler Parrish scored with 4:47 remaining.
The Trojans drew to 25-17 midway through the second quarter, but Cathedral led 36-21 at halftime. The lead stretched to as many as 38 points in the second half in the state’s most lopsided Class 4A final.
Cathedral outscored Chesterton 16-4 in the fourth quarter, posting the first 16 points.
“These guys have put our program on the map,” Urban said. “This is going to sting, trust me. But I can’t be more proud of them.
“All the pressure of being No. 1, being undefeated, people asked, ‘How would you handle it?’ They handled it all the way to the state championship. You ran into a really talented basketball team.”
Chesterton senior forward Chris Mullen, who had a game-high 10 rebounds, was named the Mental Attitude Award winner. The Indianapolis football recruit attempted to share the award.
“This team, like Travis, he’s a great leader,” Mullen said. “Him, the three other seniors, they’re all in it. We’re all pushing the same boat forward. It’s not a solo job at all.
“I don’t think I’ll ever play on a team like this in my entire life, not even when I’m holding up the Lombardi Trophy. There’s just something special. Everyone on this team worked toward the same goal. We knew we were going to be here, but no one else did. That started the Thursday after we lost in sectionals (last season). We set out to get here. It didn’t end the way we wanted to, but we got here. We worked hard every single day.”
Urban said Mullen’s award was well-deserved.
“If he didn’t, it was rigged,” Urban said. “That kid is mental attitude, mental toughness. That’s who he is. He’s an unbelievable kid. The University of Indianapolis is getting an outstanding human being, great leader, great kid who will represent their program like he’s represented all of our programs and our community.”
Senior guard Carson Parrish and Tyler Parrish had seven points each for Chesterton. Sophomore forward Justin Sims added six points.
Urban also had high praise for Grayson.
“I love the kid,” Urban said. “He’s been so good for me. The relationship we have, I can’t even put into words. I’m so proud of that kid. He’s represented himself, his family and his community in the way the IHSAA, athletic departments, student-athletes would want to be represented.
“I’m extremely proud of him. I’m going to miss him. But I love the kid to pieces.”
With numerous college coaches — including Purdue’s Matt Painter, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Ball State’s newly hired Michael Lewis — and staff members in attendance, Cathedral registered 14 blocked shots, a record in state finals.
Cathedral, which placed four players in double figures, became the first private school to win the Class 4A state championship. The Irish’s Jason Delaney became the first coach to win state titles with three schools.
“They’re really good,” Urban said. “When you have Matt Painter and Tom Izzo and a slew of other guys there, there’s probably someone really good on the floor. They have five guys who are really long, really good, and they played well.
“It’s changed all of our lives, the whole run. In a couple of weeks, I’ll sit back. I’ve been saving pictures on my phone, but I’ve pushed them away, haven’t looked at them because you’ve been diving into the next one. But the run we’ve had has been special.”
