C-G snaps skid vs. D-C

After dropping 4 straight games, Cary-Grove needed a win in the worst possible way.

A balanced offensive attack and some clutch free throws allowed the Trojans to break that streak with a 57-42 victory over Dundee-Crown in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division boys basketball game in Cary Wednesday night.

"We definitely needed this after four straight losses," said Trojans' forward Mark Tometich, who finished with all of his team-high 12 points in the second half. "We think we can make a run at (the conference championship)."

With its second and third quarter play, Cary-Grove could certainly take a shot at it.

The Trojans (10-9, 1-1) broke a 9-0 tie at the end of the first quarter by going on an 8-0 in the first 1:43 of the second period. Chris Jacquier and Dan Bartz each jacked 3-pointers to put Dundee-Crown (8-8, 1-1) down 15-9. Matt McCord, who scored 8 of his 10 points in the first half, put in a bucket to give the Trojans a 17-9 advantage.

"The beginning of the second and the beginning of the third quarter really killed us," Chargers' coach Lance Huber said. "Cary-Grove was the aggressor. They came out ready to play."

Leading 21-15 after the first half, Cary-Grove would extend its lead to 32-19 midway through the third quarter. The Trojans opened the second half with an 11-5 run led by 5 points from Mark Tometich. Paul Tometich added 8 of his 11 points in the second half and finished with 3 assists.

Jeff Beck (10 points) and David Bernard, who led all scorers with 16 points, strung together back-to-back baskets to get D-C within 34-25 with 1:16 left in the third quarter. The baskets were the first back-to-back buckets Dundee-Crown scored in the game.

"We had to win at home," Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "We were focused on keeping them off the glass in the second half."

Initially, the Chargers were the aggressors.

Dundee-Crown stayed with the Trojans in the first quarter by grabbing a 9-1 rebounding advantage in the game's first 6 minutes. Cary-Grove would finish the game with a 25-21 advantage on the glass, with a 9-5 lead on the offensive boards. Dundee-Crown also trailed in the turnover battle, giving the ball up 15 times in the game. Cary-Grove only coughed the ball up 4 times in the game, and did not record a turnover during Dundee-Crown's 17 point fourth-quarter.