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Willowbrook makes victory feel routine

Willowbrook experienced the benefits of being a 12-1 boys basketball team.

Even though the Warriors missed several opportunities to break open Tuesday's game against Leyden, their balanced talent allowed them to keep the margin in double digits throughout the second half of a 54-42 West Suburban Gold victory in Villa Park.

Willowbrook (12-1, 4-1) would have loved a blowout win, but there was solace in the ability to keep the Eagles at bay. Six-foot-six junior center Ethan Schuemer paced the effort with a game-high 16 points and 22 rebounds.

"Once we started to build that lead we started to slow things down," said Schuemer, who had 11 first-quarter rebounds but sat much of the second quarter with foul trouble. "We've just got to keep fighting and building on that lead and make sure we put them away."

Led by Schuemer, the Warriors dominated the boards while outrebounding Leyden (2-11, 0-3) 47-24. It helped Willowbrook break out to an early 13-4 lead but the Eagles used a 10-1 run to tie the game, something they did three times midway through the second quarter.

With the score knotted at 18, Willowbrook scored the final 8 points of the second quarter and the first 9 points of the third quarter to build a 17-point advantage.

"That's been the most frustrating part of the season so far," said Willowbrook coach Chris Perkins. "We don't come out with the killer instinct to bury teams."

Poor shooting from the field - 19 of 59 - in addition to 15-of-27 free-throw shooting and 17 turnovers prevented Willowbrook from building a bigger lead throughout. Leyden, meanwhile, attempted only 3 free throws.

Sikander Zafar scored 10 points for Willowbrook while Matas Masys had 9 points and Matt Myers 8 points. Sophomore Ocean Johnson led Leyden with 9 points. Joe Martinez knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and added 8 points.

"A win's a win," Schuemer said, "but obviously it feels a lot better if you can put a team away."

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Images: Willowbrook vs. Leyden boys basketball

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