Manson gets double-double as Raiders win in overtime

Glenbard South wasted little time taking charge of Tuesday's boys basketball game with Sycamore, at least at the start of overtime.

The Raiders scored three straight baskets in a span of 95 seconds to break a 57-57 tie en route to a 69-62 overtime win over the visiting Spartans in the Western Sun Conference action in Glen Ellyn. The clutch start to OT helped offset the sting of failing to finish off Sycamore (9-5, 2-4) in regulation.

"It's nice to get off to a good start in overtime, and it was nice to pull away a little bit, but they kept coming back," said Raiders center Andy Manson, who sank two clutch free throws in the extra session to finish with a game-high 20 points. "It's a good thing we had a home game. Sycamore is a tough place to play. We just outlasted them a little bit."

With Manson having a huge night inside -- 20 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots -- and guard Louis Erkins turning in an 18-point effort, it looked as though Glenbard South (9-8, 5-4) might be able to pull away without working an extra four minutes.

But Sycamore drained 8 shots from beyond the 3-point arc and four players scored in double figures. Josh Howells connected on a trio of 3s in the first half to keep Sycamore within striking distance at the break, with the hosts on top 36-32.

The Spartans drew even at 49-all after three quarters and then sent the game into OT after Kortney Hunter drove the baseline for the game-tying basket with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Glenbard South then lost the ball just prior to the buzzer before getting off a potential game-winning shot.

But the Raiders made up for that miscue and a few missed free throws late when Erkins, Brian Smith and Jordan Harks opened the extra session with three straight baskets for a 63-57 Glenbard lead. The Spartans did close to within 63-60 and 65-62, but Will Hill and Manson each made good on a pair of foul shots to secure the win.

"I don't know if we were satisfied with getting it into overtime, but I thought those were three easy shots we gave them," Sycamore coach Jeff Hillmor said. "And we need to work on valuing our possessions."

Raiders coach Wade Hardtke felt his players played not to lose down the stretch of regulation rather than go all out after a win. But he had no complaints with how they played in OT, and with how many different players played key roles in the victory.

"Down the stretch at times we got complacent," Hardtke said. "It was almost as if in overtime we got a little sigh of relief, knowing that we had some time to work with.

"Andy had a huge night, but all year long we're at our best when lots of guys contribute. We got that tonight."

Manson and Erkins combined for 38 points, but Hill added 10, Harks had 8 points and 7 boards off the bench, and Smith tallied 9 points for the Raiders.