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Glenbard South blows past ICCP

Someone did their homework those last few days of Christmas break.

Glenbard South wasn't keen on dropping the title game at Romeoville's holiday boys basketball tournament but used it as a learning tool for its first game of 2016.

"We've been trying to work on controlling the ball more on offense, not turning the ball over as much, and playing more aggressive defense and trying to force turnovers," said Raiders senior forward Johnny LaPonte.

Done and done.

Glenbard South beat IC Catholic Prep 77-44 in Metro Suburban West action Tuesday in Glen Ellyn. Trapping ballhandlers at the point and on the wings, Glenbard South (10-4, 4-0) forced IC Catholic into 22 total turnovers and scored 43 first-half points on 18-of-35 first-half shooting.

At that point Glenbard South led by 18, but after IC Catholic (9-5, 2-2) shot 2 for 11 in the third quarter that margin ran to 62-30 entering the fourth.

Behind the height and size of 6-foot-5 Billy Bair, not-so-little brother Charlie Bair and active, 6-2 Povilas Riauba, the Raiders grabbed 34 rebounds to the Knights' 21.

"They're a big team, a strong team, and we knew the size would hurt us," said IC Catholic coach T.J. Tyrrell. "We tried to pack it tight in a zone, they came out and hit a few 3s and from there it was downhill. Need to do a much better job against their pressure."

Outnumbered, IC Catholic's one true big man on the floor, 6-4 Will Lyles, mustered 8 points with 7 rebounds. Guard Troy Burrows scored a team-high 10 points.

The Raiders scored inside and out with Charlie Bair notching 11 points and 7 rebounds, Billy Bair with 7 points and 4 assists. Riauba scored 16 with a pair of 3s and 4 steals, Tim Marks added 10 with two 3s and LaPonte came off the bench for 13 points and 4 of his team's 16 steals.

In other words, Raiders basketball.

"Everybody contributed," said coach Wade Hardtke. "I thought we were able to set a tone defensively. Ultimately we were able to play at kind of our pace or our tempo. When we can dictate both ends of the floor that certainly gives us a level of confidence."

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