Second half favors Hinsdale South over Schaumburg

Everything was looking good for Schaumburg on Monday afternoon at the 41st Jack Tosh Tournament at York High School in Elmhurst.

The Saxon had built a 36-21 lead in the second quarter with 2:10 left before halftime.

More importantly, Schaumburg had been working the ball inside to get Hinsdale South 6-foot-11 junior center Barret Benson in foul trouble.

Things took a dramatic turn for the worse for the Saxons in the second half.

Schaumburg was outscored 35-12 in dropping the first-round game 61-48.

"We stopped attacking the basket," said Schaumburg coach Marty Manning. "They got two baskets to close out the half, cutting our lead to 10 (36-26) at the break."

Hinsdale South (5-4) chipped away at the Saxons' lead in the third quarter.

Five points at the beginning of the quarter by Brian Kern (10 points) started the run. Iman Reynolds, who finished with 24 points, put the Hornets on top 42-40 with a 3 with :03 left.

Hinsdale South started the fourth quarter with a, 8-0 run in which Reynolds had 5 points to open a 50-40 lead with 4:49 left.

Schaumburg's Marquis Woodard basket brought the Saxons to 53-46 with 3:25 left, but they could get no closer.

The Hornets closed the game with a 8-2 run.

"In the third quarter," said Manning, "we didn't make shots. What hurt then was that we then had defensive letdowns. I think they felt bad that the shots were going in."

One of the reason shots weren't falling was Benson. He finished with 12 points, of which 8 came in the fourth quarter. He began asserting himself on defense and blocked 4 second-half shots while grabbing 8 rebounds.

"Once he came back in the game in the third quarter," said Manning, "it was difficult to get inside. We settled for outside shots and when you are 3-for-27 you're not going to win."

Charlie Quilico led Schaumburg (6-5) with 17 points. Jason Schoo added 8 and Brendan Parker led all rebounders with 10. Woodward had 5 assists.

"In the second half," said Hinsdale South assistant coach Erin Dwyer, subbing for the ill Brett Moore, " we started off with the positivity that we could score. We said at halftime that if you have a good shot, you have to take it. On defense it was a no-brainer that Benson was a big difference."

Tommy Gumbus added 13 points for the Hornets, who shot 58 percent for the game on 20-of-34 from the field.