Viator zones out Northridge Prep

Last year, St. Viator's boys basketball team struggled against Northridge Prep zone defense, falling to the Knights 33-26.

This year the Lions were ready.

St. Viator shot 56 percent (17-for-30) in the first three quarters in jumping out to a 41-28 advantage. Then the Lions withstood a late rally by converting their free throws in securing a 54-45 nonconference victory in Arlington Heights.

"They beat us last year, so we were really ready for the zone this year," said Eric Huber who scored 13 of his game-high 16 points in the opening half. "This year we attacked it."

St. Viator (8-9) seemed a bit hesitant against the Northridge's zone early clinging to a 19-17 lead late in the second quarter.

But the Lions used a 7-0 run to close the first half in taking a 26-17 halftime advantage.

"When you don't face the zone very often you have to probe it a little bit," added St. Viator coach Joe Majkowski. "You have to find where the openings are."

The Lions continued to find the openings in the second half with Huber, Bryce Hensley (8 points), and Jim Platania ( 14 points) each hitting 3-pointers.

Platania scored on a drive and junior Dan Faerber found Richard McLoughlin for an inside basket to give the Lions their largest lead at 39-23 with 1:33 remaining in the third quarter.

"We moved the ball around and hit some outside shots, we even got some nice baskets on the blocks," said Platania of the Lions' third-quarter attack.

K.J. Sherwood joined McLoughlin and Faerber off the bench to give Viator a spark, as the Lions entered the final quarter with a 41-28 lead.

But Viator suddenly seemed out of synch in the final quarter, hitting only 2 of 11 shots combined with 5 turnovers, which gave Northridge Prep (10-8) an opening.

The Knights hit three of their five 3-pointers in the final period, including a pair by Brian Bland (12 points), to narrow the deficit to 4 points with 55 seconds remaining.

"I thought we were a bit more aggressive in the fourth quarter," said Northridge Prep coach Will Rey. "But we were back on our heels the entire first half."

But Viator went 8-for-8 from the line in the final minute to secure the victory.

"That was huge," added Platania. "Especially down the stretch, Northridge kept hitting 3s, so it was crucial we make our free throws."