DeKalb's shooting beats West Chicago
DeKALB - Execution was the key in Tuesday's opening semifinal of DeKalb's 88th annual Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic.
The host Barbs had it in abundance and that resulted in West Chicago's execution from reaching Wednesday's championship for the 16-school tournament.
The Wildcats (10-2) tip off at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday for third place against Marmion in what is billed as the state's oldest continuous prep tournament.
"We got good shots early and maybe on any other day they drop," Tai Bibbs said.
Unfortunately for West Chicago, it was clearly DeKalb's night.
The Barbs (9-3) nailed 70.6 percent of their first-half shots and then cooled off to a mere 51.9 percent in the second half, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range.
By contrast the Wildcats connected on 18.2 percent in the opening quarter to trail 13-5 with a top of the key 3 from DeKalb's Michael Pollack creating a 28-18 halftime advantage. By game's end West Chicago made 31.8 percent with 7-of-20 3-pointers.
"I wasn't surprised by what (DeKalb) did but was surprised by our lack of execution," Wildcats coach Bill Recchia said. "We'd force a turnover or a miss but then didn't capitalize. You take an ill-advised shot or make a turnover of your own, you'll lose to a good team."
"The only reason we lose is because we beat ourselves," the Wildcats' Mike Bibbs added. "This may have been our biggest challenge, so clearly we need to improve our toughness because we want to beat teams this good."
A pair of Wildcats buckets in the final minute of third quarter produced the 45-30 deficit heading into the fourth. DeKalb opened with a Cole Tucker 3, and 6-foot-8 Luke Davis had the first of two breakaway dunks as the hosts got the gap to 20. For the Barbs, all nine wins have been by double-figure margins with five over 20.
Davis shared game-high honors of 17 with teammate Pollack but added 10 game-bests of 10 rebounds and five locks. Tucker added 14 for the Barbs.
Tai Bibbs led West Chicago with 14 with Quinn Ricci scoring 11 and topping the Wildcats with 4 boards.
"On a night like this you just have to work harder to try to get easier shots or baskets in transition, or up your defense," Tai Bibbs said. "Coach tells us every possession counts and tonight was an example of how we can't take plays off."
"The plus side is every single error is fixable," Recchia said. "I don't believe we were mismatched. As for tomorrow, they'll get themselves up. If a kid needs a coach to motivate him to play he's not a true basketball player. The privilege to put on a uniform and step in front of a crowd is all the incentive real competitors need."