Conant 51, Hoffman Estates 42

Last year's understudies were ready when their shot in the spotlight came at Conant.

After watching and waiting, a mix of relatively untested varsity seniors and juniors set out to achieve the success of their predecessors.

And the Cougars achieved their Mid-Suburban West boys basketball repeat title feat as they avenged their only division loss with a 51-42 victory over visiting rival Hoffman Estates on Friday night in Perry Gymnasium.

"We were tired of curvy numbers and wanted some straight lines," Conant senior Tommy Sotos said with a smile of finishing No. 1 in the West after second-place tournament finishes at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"It's a different team and it's always great to get a conference championship," said Conant point guard Jeff Keegan, who has the most experience off the bench from last year and scored 10 points. "This year it does feel like we're a little more a part of it."

And the Cougars (18-4, 8-1) will return to the MSL's biggest stage Feb. 20 to try to repeat as league champions.

The division title is their ninth. It's only the second time they won in successive years -- the other was three in a row capped by the 1994 Elite Eight qualifier.

"It's great to see your goals come to fruition like this," Sotos said after scoring 7 of his 12 points in the middle of the third quarter to give the Cougars a vise-like grip on their eighth straight victory.

This time they clamped down on Hoffman (13-11, 6-3) with offensive patience and man-to-man defensive tenacity after giving up a season-high for points in a 63-53 loss on Dec. 20.

Junior Tony Rizzo had 14 points and 4 assists and shackled Hawks' scoring leader Luke Mead to 9 points on 2-for-7 shooting. Mead had 24 points and three 3s the first time.

"I thought Tony did a great job," said Conant coach Tom McCormack of Mead missing his only 3 try in the fourth quarter.

"The rest of the team played great help-side 'D,'" Rizzo said, "and the other guys did a great job stepping up."

Rizzo's pair of first-quarter steals and layups set an ill-sounding tone for Hoffman, which got a game-high 19 points and 6 rebounds from junior Tom Dombrowski.

"The first quarter was just a nightmare," said Hoffman coach Bill Wandro. "It set us back too far."

Seniors Chris Hoffman and Tom Mahr did their usual inside work and screening and combined for 12 of Conant's 25-17 rebound edge.

Juniors David Trinco (6 points, 4 rebounds) and Cameron Leavitt an senior Bill Charvat provided big minutes off the bench.

And a pair of 3s and a free throw by Sotos in a 1:05 span put Conant up 28-17.

"We were getting a little stagnant on offense," Sotos said, "and I told myself if I get open I'm putting this thing up."

Conant stayed up at least 6 points the rest of the way.

"Watching the team last year do it motivates us a lot," Rizzo said. "We saw how much fun they were having and wanted to repeat that."

Mission accomplished.