Buffalo Grove 64, Elk Grove 49
That blur winning its Mid-Suburban East opener Friday night at home was Buffalo Grove.
The Bison (4-1, 1-0) raced out to a double-digit lead over visiting Elk Grove, held off the hard-working Grens' comeback and then turned on the jets again for a 64-49 victory.
"They're quick," said Elk Grove coach Anthony Furman, after BG forced 32 turnovers out of his Grens. "What looked open they closed out quickly. It's their total team speed."
And the stallion leading the way was Brian DeSimone. Forget his 27 points on an assortment of drives, 3-pointers, fast-break lay-ins and constant movement to get open.
His all-around game, forcing mistakes, getting in passing lanes and concentrating on Grenadiers' high-scorer Billy Hubly was significant.
"I thought Brian DeSimone's defense on Hubly was tremendous," BG coach Ryan O'Connor said after DeSimone and friends held Elk Grove's high scorer so far this young season to just 8 points and no field goals until period four.
Despite BG's quickness and game-long lead, Elk Grove (0-5, 0-1) was within 43-37 after three when the Bison switched it on.
DeSimone got it started with a steal for 2 free throws, James Hurley, off the bench, added a putback, and unsung Kevin Mulligan scored on the break on a feed from Hurley after a DeSimone swipe.
By the time DeSimone scored on the break on a feed from Mulligan, who registered a steal, it was 55-39 and all but over with 4:09 left.
So much of BG's offense clearly is generated by its defense. "If we just play good defense," DeSimone said afterward, "the offense will come."
"That was the big difference, first half to second half," said O'Connor. "We converted (on their mistakes)."
BG had balanced scoring, as DeSimone got support from Mulligan and perimeter deadeye Paul Timko with 10 points apiece.
Junior center Matt Martinski (12 points) kept Elk Grove in it with a strong game around the basket that enabled the Grens to substantially out-rebound the Bison. But twice as many turnovers as the Bison spelled doom.
Now the Grens know they need to play a complete game, and finish. "They recognize we have to put things together all four quarters," said Furman.
Nazareth 46, St. Viator 40: The Lions (1-3, 0-1) lost their East Suburban Catholic Conference opener in LaGrange Park.
Waukegan 63, Maine West 35: Sophomore Jereme Richmond, who has committed to Illinois, made his first appearance in a Waukegan (1-3) uniform and scored 25 points in the Central Suburban League crossover with visiting Maine West (1-5).
Richmond transferred from North Shore Country Day and missed the first 3 games for disciplinary reasons.
Morton 72, Leyden 41: The Eagles (1-3, 0-1) dropped the West Suburban Gold opener for both teams in Franklin Park.