Wrap: Fenton wins over Bartlett
Once you've played in a dozen or so close games, you start to develop a thick skin when it comes to fourth-quarter pressure.
Bartlett held a 48-41 fourth-quarter lead on Fenton in a nonconference boys game in Bensenville, but the Bison stayed calm and closed the game with a 17-9 run to win 58-57 Friday.
"The thing I love about this team is that when we fall back, we find a way to get back in the game. We've got a lot of heart," said Fenton senior Damian Sieradzki, who led all scorers and rebounders with 27 points and 10 boards.
"This was one of our better games this season," said Fenton coach Dennis Cromer. "Talent-wise, (Bartlett) was one of the best teams we've played.
"By and large we beat them on the boards, and we played a better zone than we have during the course of the year."
Despite playing with a height disadvantage, Fenton earned a 27-24 rebounding edge on Bartlett. Gozie Umeadi also netted 18 points for Fenton (6-8), and while Bartlett (10-5) got 21 points and 9 rebounds from center Kamil Janton, no other Hawks managed to score in double digits.
For Hawks coach Jim Wolfsmith, scoring wasn't the problem.
"I'm not satisfied with our effort from the time we got off the bus," he said. "In fact all week in practice I could see this coming."
Bartlett led 11-7 after a quarter and 26-25 by halftime, punching the ball inside to Janton and getting a pair of 3-pointers from Frankie Cleope. The Hawks outscored the Bison 17-12 in the third quarter, with guard Marc Little sparking a late run by finding teammates for open looks.
The game's key stretch came just after Bartlett grabbed a 54-48 lead late in the final quarter. Fenton's Billy Gratzl buried a 3-pointer, a Bison steal and Umeadi layup followed, and after a Bartlett charging call, Sieradzki hit a 3 that capped an 8-0 run and gave Fenton a 56-54 lead.
"I don't know how I got that open," Sieradzki said. "I was just standing there by myself."
"A couple times, we didn't mark bodies," Wolfsmith said. "We left (Gratzl) open for a 3, turned the ball over at half-court and gave (Sieradzki) a couple open shots.
"He's a good shooter, and you just can't do that."
Bartlett missed its next shot, Sieradzki buried a pair of free throws, and Bartlett's Luke Labedzki hit a 3 as time expired. Labedzki and Cory Hrynyk finished with 8 points apiece, and Cleope netted 9.
"We didn't finish the game strong," Wolfsmith said. "We were so happy about the way we played in the Jacobs (Christmas) tournament, that we got out there today and tried to play on reputation. And that doesn't work."
Gratzl finished with 9 for Fenton, and Sieradzki scored 12 of his points in the final period.
Girls basketball
Geneva 54, Sycamore 30: Taylor Whitley finished with 20 points and grabbed 7 steals as the Vikings raised their record to 12-4 overall and 6-1 in the Western Sun Conference.
Nicole Gregory contributed with 11 points and 8 rebounds and Olivia Laster pulled down 6 boards.
Women's basketball
Aurora 64, North Central 54:
The Spartans improved to 7-5 overall and 5-0 in the NAC with their home win over the Cardinals.
Meagan Re scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and dished out four assists. Kisha Miller had 14 points and Kim Voiles finished with nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Jessica Davis paced North Central (5-6) with 16 points.