Addison Trail 55, Leyden 38
Addison Trail senior guard Vince Beachem couldn't put it in words in the moments after the final horn sounded, but one could tell that Friday's 55-38 boys basketball victory over visiting Leyden in West Suburban Gold action was a big deal to him and the rest of the team.
Heading into this game, the Blazers had lost straight 73 conference games. Their last Gold win was over the Eagles, 56-47, on Feb. 2, 2002. That losing streak is no more now after Addison Trail got that proverbial monkey off its back thanks to the inspired play of Beachem, junior Ian Horvath, senior Vince Noworyta and others.
"There was something in us that made us play together as a team and get this done," said Beachem, who led all scorers with 16 points. "We wanted to get it done for the seniors. It feels real good. I really can't explain it."
After a victory over Fenton earlier in the week, the Blazers (5-19, 1-10) brought that momentum into this contest. They jumped to 8-0 lead early on the long-range sharpshooting of Horvath who sank a pair of 3-pointers. Horvath finished with 12 points.
Addison Trail led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter but extended its lead to 26-13 at halftime with a 16-5 advantage in the second quarter. Beachem was the spark. The lightning quick point guard nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing and completed a three-point play with a free throw after a strong drive to the hoop. He also sank 2 more foul shots.
Beachem's defense and ability to find the open player were decisive factors as well. His pressure on the Eagles ballhanders gave them problems and his razor sharp passes were right on the money to teammates who were open near the basket for points, especially to Noworyta who scored all 10 of his points in the second half.
"If I had just one word to describe Vince, he is such a competitor," said Addison Trail coach Brendan Lyons. "He does so much for us in creating shots for other guys and has really developed an outside game of his own to keep defenses honest. The pressure he puts on the basketball really disrupts what other teams want to do.
"I am really proud of him and all of the seniors. For them to persevere for four years of not having a lot success and to play with the energy we did all week. We got that conference win and the monkey off our back."
Leyden coach Bill Heisler felt that Beachem was the difference. The Eagles (4-17, 1-10) also struggled on offense without the services of leading scorer Daron Guyton, who was not there for the game. Guyton averages 18.1 points per game. On Friday it was guard Alex Regalado who paced the squad with 14 points.
"(Beachem) is a tough matchup and gets everyone going," Heisler said. "We just didn't score any points."