Ricci scores 28 in West Chicago win
Sam Ricci's huge night was anything but free and easy.
Well, maybe a little free.
West Chicago's junior forward knocked down 18 of 20 free throws and scored a game-high 28 points while leading the Wildcats to Monday's 64-58 nonconference boys basketball victory over Glenbard North in Carol Stream.
The Wildcats (4-4) gradually eliminated a deficit that at one point reached 12 points. Then, behind an effective half-court trapping defense, they poured it on and pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Ricci was pivotal in the decisive run, scoring 16 fourth-quarter points including 10-of-10 free-throw shooting.
"It's a lot of points, but a credit just to the free throws," said Ricci, whose previous varsity high was 23 points. "We just had to execute our play. We were being sloppy in the beginning and just had to figure it out."
Glenbard North led 34-25 early in the third quarter on a Darryl Creamer bucket, but the advantage shrank to 38-35 heading to the fourth quarter after the Wildcats forced 8 turnovers. West Chicago, which made 14 of 19 second-half field goals and 14 of 19 free throws, stormed ahead to stay with a 12-1 run to start the final period.
The Panthers (0-9), who built their biggest lead of 21-9 early in the second quarter, never could get closer than 6 points away.
"We've just got to sustain our good play," said Glenbard North coach Joe Larson. "I thought we did a great job playing in spurts, and then we just had a hard time taking care of the ball in the third quarter. That was a big difference in the ballgame, along with the free throws."
Lee Rady scored 14 of his 22 points in the first half for Glenbard North, which was hampered throughout the game by foul trouble. Creamer added 19 points. Jason Gimre scored 14 points for West Chicago before fouling out.
"Really unselfish play by everyone on the floor," said West Chicago coach Bill Recchia. "It was just a great, gritty, well-earned victory."
Follow Kevin on Twitter