Buffalo Grove enjoys rout of Highlanders

A big early lead in Buffalo Grove's 88-59 nonconference boys basketball victory over visiting Driscoll on Tuesday night meant plenty of playing time for the reserves on both teams.

Junior James Hurley was one of several Bison bench players who stepped up by scoring 14 points. Freshman Nick Prus added 11 points and sophomore Mike Cornely chipped in with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

"This was fun," said Hurley, who scored 8 points in the first quarter and had 3 of Buffalo Grove's nine 3-poiners. "A lot of guys got to play a lot and made the most of it."

Reserve guard Don Sullivan led Driscoll with 17 points. Six-foot-10 senior Jake Lindfors, coming off a 31-point effort in a win over Montini, contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds.

"We didn't compete, " said Driscoll coach Nick Latorre. "I don't know if we were intimidated or if it was their defensive pressure, but we did a poor job."

It was Buffalo Grove starters Brian DeSimone and Paul Timko, along with Mike Ricciardi who helped break the contest open early in the second quarter. DeSimone finished with a game-high 22 points, and Ricciardi added 17.

Four consecutive 3s, 2 each from DeSimone and TImko, led the Bison to a 20-pint lead five minutes into the period.

Buffalo Grove (13-4) led 48-20 with 7:09 left in the third quarter when Latorre substituted for all five starters.

The substitutes responded by cutting into the Bison advantage. Sullivan, Kevin Calhoun, Gabe Tumlos, Dan Kadlec and Joe Calabrese provided the Highlanders (12-7) with a much-needed spark.

"Our so-called second unit came in and gave us a lot of energy," Latorre said.

"We rarely get a chance like this," Sullivan added, "and this group of guys was out there busting their butts.

"We wanted to play hard until we couldn't breathe anymore and that's what we did."