Clutch McKay Peterson seals West Side’s latest win

DAYTON — McKay Peterson finished West Side’s victory at Marsh Valley Saturday with 17 points, eight of which coming in the final three minutes of the game as the Pirates fended off a late comeback attempt from the Eagles.

Following an Eagle-dominated first quarter that ended with West Side trailing by eight, the Pirates battled their way back from the open of the second quarter. They seized control of the game before halftime, and maintained that control through the third quarter and into the fourth. But a fourth-quarter blitz from the Eagles threatened a late lead-change. Winning took some MVP-caliber shooting from the senior guard, who models his games after a two-time NBA MVP.

Peterson said after the game that he grew up playing basketball — as far back as he can remember, he has had a basketball in his hands. He said that he tries to emulate Stephen Curry in his preparation and play.

Curry, as he explained, has never been the biggest player on the court. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Curry is similar in stature to Peterson. But Peterson, like Curry, is constantly looking for ways to produce despite his slight build.

He found a way to leave a massive impact on the Pirates’ latest win, scoring eight points down the stretch, including a pair of massive, Curry-esque 3-pointers.

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The first came with West Side leading, 54-53, with less than two minutes on the clock. The second came on the Pirates’ next trip down the court, and pushed their lead from three to six.

Asked what was going through his mind as he was sinking Marsh Valley’s hopes, Peterson said, nothing at all.

“I just catch and knock it down,” he said. … “I’m confident in my shot, I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym.”

Senior forward Ivan Campbell, who was credited with an assist on the second of Peterson’s big shots, attested to his teammate’s work ethic.

“He spends a lot of time in the gym, shooting,” Campbell said. “When you have a shooter like that wide open, you pass it to him.”

Peterson described the play that set up his second 3 — the dagger.

He said he expected to face tighter coverage after having just made a big shot, but found space when he saw multiple defenders crash on Campbell, who was slashing to the paint. Peterson said he set his feet and was ready for the ball at the top of the key.

“I knew I was set up and ready to take the shot,” he said.

The home team and crowd, which had been building in energy as Marsh Valley fought back, suffered a hug letdown as Peterson’s triple tickled the twine. Even with a 3 on the other end from senior Kaden Hansen, the Eagles never had another chance to take the lead.

West Side’s senior leadership, which includes Peterson, Campbell and point guard Crew Sage — who scored 19 at Marsh Valley — has led the Pirates to a 7-2 start. That start made them the No. 3-ranked 3A team in the state in the final media poll of 2024.

The Pirates lost in last year’s third-place game at State and look to improve upon that as they chase conference rival Declo and 2024 champion, Ambrose.

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