Hoffman Estates 56, Schaumburg 52

It may have been November, but it felt like March. That's the kind of game you're going to get every time boys basketball teams from Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates meet.

For it to be the Mid-Suburban West opener was a bonus for fans at Schaumburg on Friday. For Hoffman's Luke Mead, the game left a lasting impression on him and his teammates.

Mead, whose 13 points and 8 assists led the balanced Hawks (4-0, 1-0) to a 56-52 win, was worn out from the extremely physical game. teammate Tom Dombrowski (6 points) was sporting a bandage covering a gash over his right eye from a stray elbow.

"I feel a little groggy," said Mead who was knocked to the court several times, not including the dives he took to recover loose balls. "That's just how they play. We focused on not getting mad at the refs or the foul calls, just to play our game."

Behind the scoring of Brandon Bolger (13 of his game-high 17 points) and Cully Payne (9 of his 16), Schaumburg led 34-28 at halftime.

But the Hawks outscored the Saxons (3-2, 0-1) 12-2 in the first 2:46 of the third quarter. Casey Terry (10 points) made 2 baskets, Mead a 3-point play, Joe Valadez a 3-pointer and Dombrowski a driving layup in that run.

"We had that run at the right time," said Hoffman coach Bill Wandro. "We were down 8, and the kids came out and took control. That's where the game turned."

The Hawks took the lead for good when Ben Collins (10 points) scored on a putback with 6:34 left for a 48-46 lead. Mead's driving layup made it 50-46 with 5:08 left.

After Bolger dropped in a pair of free throws at 4:19, Collins and Terry each scored to give Hoffman its largest lead, 54-48 with 2:20 left.

"That was a great high school game as far as its intensity, but I'm disappointed in our execution at times," said Schaumburg coach Bob Williams. "Our offense never got anything going."