Addison Trail bounces back
A streak of four strong games to start the season came to a throttling halt for Addison Trail's boys basketball team with Friday's loss to Morton.
The question heading into this week was obvious: How would the Blazers respond?
Despite a mixed-bag performance on Tuesday, Addison Trail's nonconference trip to Fenton came to a positive conclusion with a 50-45 victory in Bensenville.
The Blazers (5-1) will take much-needed momentum into Friday's big West Suburban Gold showdown against unbeaten Willowbrook.
"I think we came out with more energy," said Blazers senior Michael Williams. "When coach calls a timeout we all come together and we know the other team is close. We know we have to kick it up some more."
Tuesday's positives for Addison Trail included several moments on the verge of breaking open the game. Fenton (1-6), however, never folded. In fact the Bison crept within a basket multiple times in the third quarter before the Blazers finally sealed the win.
Bryan Larsen scored 8 of his game-high 20 points in the third quarter as Fenton tried to take a lead for the first time. It didn't happen, but the Bison came close when Bryan Andrade was whistled for a charge on a bucket that would have put his team ahead by a point.
Williams responded with a basket for the Blazers and then scored twice more before the end of the quarter. The run became 12-2 early in the fourth quarter to put Addison Trail ahead 40-30.
"My guys played hard for me," said Fenton coach Chaz Taft. "No matter how down or how up they are during a game, they want to compete. We'll just have to keep coming out and getting after it."
Williams and Colton Noel each scored 14 points for the Blazers, with Bobby Daniels pitching in 8 points and 6 rebounds. Ethan Guerra came off the bench with a pair of 3-pointers and 10 points for Fenton.
"We're going to get a lot of games like this," said Blazers coach Brendan Lyons. "Getting a win and getting that experience in games like this is important for some guys."
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