Hoffman turns back Palatine

It's only a hunch, but committing just one turnover in the second half should get you a win. Hoffman Estates proved how.

"The fact that we only had one turnover in the second half is just amazing," Hawks coach Bill Wandro said of his team with ballhandling issues the past couple games. "Really, that's a team compliment."

It also complemented a Hawks comeback, who trailed by as many as 6 points with 3:00 remaining in the third quarter, but used a 14-3 run in an eight-minute span to earn a 48-39 Mid-Suburban

West boys basketball victory over Palatine Friday night.

"Last game we played them, we turned the ball over left and right, and this whole week we've been working on

traps and I thought we really took advantage," said Lance Vesper (12 points, 6

boards) of Palatine's trapping defense.

Palatine (7-13, 2-5) held the Hawks to just 16 first-half points and 33 percent from the field. Jake Velinski's buzzer beating runner gave the Pirates a 20-16 halftime lead.

The Hawks (10-8, 2-5) came out with patience and beautiful ball movement in the second half, outscoring the Pirates by 13.

"We got up 6 and we

didn't get a few stops we that needed," said Pirates coach Eric Millstone.

Palatine led by 2 points opening the fourth, but a Jimmy Fabbrini 3-point play after being fouled on a left wing jumper gave the Hawks a 32-29 lead with 5:33 left. Vesper's jumper from the left wing with 3:46 left made it 36-31 and the Hawks sealed the game at the free-throw line.