Bartlett handles South Elgin
The Bartlett boys basketball team has a little something in common with the famous inventor Eli Whitney, whose invention of the interchangeable part revolutionized the manufacturing industry in the early 19th century.
The Hawks' starting five are similar in size and style and often play like interchangeable parts. Against visiting rival South Elgin on Friday night they were running like a finely tuned machine.
All five starters were in double digits with Ben Tompson's 19 points leading the way in a 71-60 Upstate Eight Valley Division win over the Storm. The Hawks remain within one game of West Aurora and will play for the division title next Wednesday when they travel to play the Blackhawks.
Tomas Vikonis and Ben Fisher each added 15 points. Drew Martin had 11 points and Austin Gates finished with 10.
"It's awesome to have that kind of balance," Tompson said. "If a team wants to focus on one player and face guard him we have other ones who can slip through. We don't mind working the ball around to whoever is open."
The Hawks (17-11, 8-2) had a hard time shaking the Storm after twice pulling a way to comfortable leads only to see them quickly vanish. However, the third time proved to be a charm for Bartlett.
Tompson played a big role in getting the Hawks their first two sizable leads. The junior had 8 points in the first quarter as the Hawks jumped out to a 9-0 lead. However, South Elgin rallied to pull ahead briefly late in the second quarter 23-22.
Again the Hawks pulled out to a 49-36 advantage in the third quarter behind 9 points from Tompson, but once again South Elgin later went on a 10-0 run to pull to within 57-55 with 3:46 left.
Bartlett finally closed the door with a 14-5 run to finish the game. The run started with consecutive baskets from Vikonis, Gates, Fisher, and Martin.
"Our starting five is a good group that is playing real well together," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "They share and move the ball real well in our offense. They take turns stepping up. It's a big win. It keeps us in control of our own destiny heading in to play West Aurora. That's what we wanted - was just a chance.'
The loss snaps a 3-game winning streak for the Storm, who fall to 17-10, 4-6. Logan Atkins had 21 points to lead the Storm in scoring.
"Once again we showed we can battle back," South Elgin coach Brett Johnson said. "But we can't keep trying to battle uphill against teams like Bartlett and expect to win. We have to find a way to bring the intensity all 32 minutes.'