Hinsdale South tops Addison Trail
The Addison Trail boys basketball team was on the ropes during the first quarter Friday night of its senior night game against visiting Hinsdale South.
The Blazers needed answers and did get them, but it wasn't enough to overcome the problems of the first quarter. The Hornets went home 62-51 winners.
Hinsdale South (20-8, 9-3 West Suburban Gold) shot 9 of 11 during the first eight minutes, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range to lead 22-7. Addison Trail found a way to put the brakes on the Hornets, but it was not the Blazers' usual style of play.
"We're not an up-tempo team. We control and play for possession," said Blazers coach Brendan Lyons. "But we had to get away from that. (Hinsdale South) shot well in that first quarter."
A three-point play by the Hornets' Barret Benson, who led all scorers with 18 points, put his team up 25-7 to start the second quarter. Then the Blazers (12-12, 4-8) found their answer and finished out the second half on a 21-10 run to trail just 35-28 at halftime.
The Northwestern-bound Benson became Hinsdale South's all-time leading scorer with Friday's effort. He stands at 1,652 points.
Two 3-pointers from Nicholas Conrad and a 3 each from Ryan Zygowicz and Michael Williams sparked the rally. The team shot 7 of 12 from the field during the second quarter.
"We will win a lot of games, we have won a lot of games, if we shoot like that," said Hinsdale South coach Brett Moore of the first quarter. "That's as good as we've played all season. I thought Addison Trail was the better team in the second quarter.
A 3-pointer by Jack Kalbas, who led the Blazers with 14 points, started the third quarter and pulled his team to within four at 35-31.
A free throw by the Hornets' Sean McCormack put his team back up by 11 with 5:37 remaining. A basket by Benson had Hinsdale ahead 50-36 at the end of three quarters.
The Blazers got that advantage down to single digits in the fourth. Two free throws by Williams pulled his team to within 51-47 with 3:56 left in the game.
The Hornets finished out the contest going 7 of 10 from the free-throw line to stay in control.
Addison Trail closes out the regular season Tuesday at home in the annual West Suburban Conference crossover lineup of games. As it is seeded, some results from Friday night needed to be known. But Lyons said it was likely that the Blazers would host Proviso West starting at 7.
After that it's regional play the following week.
"I feel we are playing good basketball. The kids are working hard. I think we are getting better," Lyons said.