Lyons Township 54, Glenbard West 48

It has been said that the 3-point shot is basketball's "great equalizer."

Just not for Glenbard West Friday night.

The Hilltoppers gave West Suburban Silver co-leader Lyons Township all it could handle, but ultimately perimeter shooting was their undoing in a 52-48 loss in LaGrange.

Four days after their highest scoring output of the season in an 83-67 win over Proviso West, the Hilltoppers shot 6 of 25 from 3-point range, 3 of 19 over the first three quarters.

"We've seen it pretty much all season," Glenbard West coach Tim Hoder said. "Some days we shoot it pretty well. Other days we don't."

Lyons Twp.'s blueprint defensively was no different than any other Glenbard West opponent: surround John Shurna.

The Lions (17-3, 7-2) played a sagging man-to-man on the Northwestern-bound senior, with multiple defenders helping down to aid physical posts Matt Hirt and Jeff Adams.

Shurna scored 16 points to go with 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. It was a tough 16, 6 shy of his season average.

"Whenever he got the ball, we just swarmed to him," Lyons Twp. senior guard Tim Cosentino said. "You can't let him get into his move, or he's going to score."

"Difference is, when they sag they have bigger bodies," said Hoder, alluding to four Lions starters 6-4 or taller. "That makes a difference."

Glenbard West (13-10, 4-6) led 22-20 at the half, Kevin Watt muscling in two scores to end the half.

But Lyons Twp. ran off the first 9 points of the third quarter, Cosentino's 2 free throws making it 29-22.

Shane Bryant's 3-pointer made it 33-29, but Colin Allodi answered with his own 3-pointer to end the quarter.

"LT is at the top of the conference," Shurna said. "They're going to make their runs."

Lyons Twp. led 45-33 with four minutes left before a late surge capped off by Shurna's leaning jumper pulled the Hilltoppers within 49-46 with 41 seconds left.

The Lions' Ed Viliunas split a pair of free throws, and Shurna missed a 3-pointer.

"For as poorly as we played in the third quarter, we were right there," Shurna said. "It was a dogfight to the end."

Cosentino scored 14 points and Viliunas and Adams 10 each for Lyons Twp., with kept pace with Oak Park for the conference lead.

Watt scored 7, Bryant Venton 6 and Bryant 6. Of Glenbard West's 45 shots, 25 were 3-pointers.

"We just couldn't get into any rhythm offensively," Shurna said. "We just held the ball and waited for some guy to shoot a 3."