Conway shows the way for Hoffman

Now would be the perfect time for Hoffman Estates to duplicate its longest winning streak of the season.

The 11th-seeded Hawks won their first three games. They have a chance to match that run after beating No. 22 Round Lake 61-44 in Monday's Class 4A Schaumburg boys basketball regional quarterfinal.

It won't be easy for the Hawks (14-12) as they face resurgent North Suburban Conference champion and sixth-seed Zion-Benton (20-10) and Ohio State recruit Lenzelle Smith in Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal.

"We have to come out of the gate ready to play," said Hoffman 6-foot-4 senior Colin Conway, who had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

"We have to be ready to play from the beginning Wednesday night," said Hoffman coach Bill Wandro after the 500th win in program history. "We can't come out and mentally take any vacations."

Especially after Monday's game was nowhere near as easy as it appeared.

Round Lake (3-24) didn't play like an undersized team starting four sophomores. It scored 7 of the first 8 points and never trailed in the first 13 minutes.

Seniors Jon Martinez (20 points) and Tim Kelley (10 points) combined for 17 first-half points and sophomores Gage Steger and Danny Uriotsegui drew charges.

"I really thought we came out with a lot of intensity tonight," said Round Lake coach Howard Kravets. "I'm really proud of our kids. They really played hard."

Fortunately for the Hawks, Conway had a big first half with 11 points. Conway and Lance Vesper (9 points, 6 rebounds) flip-flopped assists for baskets in an 8-0 run to put them ahead 25-19.

"We seemed a little tentative and they were the aggressors in the beginning," Conway said after leading the Hawks to a 28-12 rebound edge. "Coach said rebounding would win this game and I tried to do my best."

Ben Cho also provided a first-half spark and Kevin Tiongson scored 10 of his 12 points in a second half where Hoffman had only 4 of its 16 turnovers.

Sophomore Juddon Carter scored 10 second-half points but Round Lake had 21 turnovers result in 23 points for Hoffman.

"Eventually their depth, size, strength and maturity wore us down," Kravets said. "But I take a lot of positives out of tonight. The kids gave everything they had and that's all you can ask for as a coach."