St. Charles East knocks off Streamwood
Rhythm can be a fleeting thing for a high school basketball team.
One quarter you have it and the next quarter it is gone.
After allowing a 12-point lead to slip away while being outscored 15-6 in the third quarter, St. Charles East's boys team (9-8, 4-2) responded with an 18-4 surge in the first 5 minutes of the fourth period during its 65-54 Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory over Streamwood (4-18, 1-6) Thursday night in St. Charles.
"I just think we're very much a rhythm team," said Saints coach Patrick Woods, whose team's 6 third-quarter points were scored by senior Zach Hondlik (17 points, 7 rebounds). "I think when one guy begins to catch a rhythm, we all catch a rhythm."
That rhythm included a 12-point scoring spree from 6-4 senior guard J.T. Ford, who canned all 3 of his fourth-quarter shots as well as 4 consecutive free throws on his way to a team-high 18 points.
"We just started hitting shots and moving the ball well," said Ford. "I started feeling it again in the fourth quarter. It's good to end the game hot."
The Saints, who snapped a 5-game losing streak, began the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to break a 40-40 deadlock.
Evan DiLeonardi (5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) started it off with a 3-point play before teammates Zach Mitchell (8 points) and Ford hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 49-40 with 5:25 remaining.
"We had a couple breakdowns and a good team like that is going to make you pay," said Sabres coach Paul Kowalyszyn. "It's three minor things and bang-bang-bang, you're down by nine."
Streamwood enjoyed an 18-4 run of its own to get back in the game after falling behind 34-22 late in the second quarter.
Sophomore Brendon Marton (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocked shots) ended the first half with a 3-pointer from the wing to cut the deficit to 34-25.
Joey O'Halloran (12 points) began the third quarter with one of his four 3-pointers to make it 34-28 and the Sabres continued their rally, pulling even at 38-38 on a basket by Aaron Siewert before taking a 40-38 lead on an inside runner by Jaleel Jenkins (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals).
"I thought we had a lot more energy in the third quarter," said Kowalyszyn. "I thought we could have extended the lead but we just couldn't finish around the basket."
Ben Talarczyk added 7 points as the Saints snapped a 23-day dry spell between victories.
"It does feel like a long time," said Woods. "Anytime you lose one game, it feels like a long time. It's nice to get back on track and get a win."
The victory enabled the Saints to stay within 2 games of conference-leading Batavia (6-0).
"Now it's about trying to survive in this conference race," said Woods. "We're not too far behind."