Conant 48, Lake Park 32
What sounds beautiful to Conant is a broken record to its opponents.
Because the beat just goes on for the Cougars when they spin their defensive 45s.
On Saturday night they improved to 10-1 when holding an opponent to less than 45 points. They shackled Lake Park 48-32 in a nonconference boys basketball game at Perry Gymnasium in Hoffman Estates.
"If our team holds the other team under 45 we have a great chance of winning," said senior Tom Mahr, who personified Conant's grit with 7 points and 8 rebounds on a bad ankle. "We're disappointed if we don't hold a team under 40."
Junior Tony Rizzo came off the bench on senior night to provide the offensive glitz Conant (15-4) needed in its fifth straight victory.
Rizzo scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting as the Cougars methodically grinded Lake Park (6-14) into submission.
"Our defense is what we rely on every game," Rizzo said of the Cougars allowing just 42 points a game. "If we're not hitting shots we can fall back on our defense to give us a good boost offensively."
Which Conant did after senior George Manos hit a pullup jumper 42 seconds after halftime to get Lake Park within 23-17.
Lake Park couldn't make up any more ground despite Conant going scoreless the first 3:57 of the second half.
"They're disciplined and once they get you down they're a very good team," said Lake Park coach Cray Allen after his team shot 33 percent from the field and committed 15 turnovers. "A 6-point lead against Conant is like 12 or 13 against most teams."
And in a span of 2:50, a 13-0 run ballooned Conant's lead to 36-17. Rizzo started it with a 3-pointer and scored 7 points, Jeff Keegan had a layup and reserve Cameron Leavitt scored twice.
"Cameron really sparked us with his defense," said Tom McCormack, who got his 398th career win in 24 years as a head coach at Conant and Immaculate Conception. "He gave us some toughness and a spark we were able to ride a little bit."
Tommy Sotos added 9 points and 5 rebounds as Conant also won for the eighth time when it's scored less than 50 points.
"If we get an 8-point lead," Mahr said, "we know it will be really tough for the other team to get that back the way we play defense."
-- Marty Maciaszek
Willowbrook 67, Leyden 55: Milton Colbert scored 20 points to lead the Warriors' West Suburban Gold victory. Joe Flood scored 11 points and Jamell Hunter had 10 for Willowbrook (15-4, 6-2).