Batavia 74, Sycamore 56
The Batavia boys basketball team inched another step closer to its third consecutive conference championship with Friday's convincing 74-56 triumph over host Sycamore.
The Bulldogs (18-5, 11-2), who earned a share of the Western Sun Conference title with the victory, can seal their second straight outright Western Sun Conference title (they also captured the Suburban Prairie North crown in 2005-06) as early as tonight if DeKalb (9-3) falls to Sycamore -- or by defeating Kaneland Friday.
"It's pretty neat," said senior forward Nick Fruendt, a member of the two previous conference championship teams. "That's one of our goals heading into every season."
After a fast-paced first quarter that saw the two teams combine for 34 points, the Bulldogs took charge in the second stanza, outscoring the Spartans (11-10, 3-8) 21-10 while opening a 39-26 halftime bulge.
Pushing the tempo, Batavia displayed an equal-opportunity offense throughout the game, especially in the second quarter when seven different players joined in the scoring.
"We moved the ball well in the second quarter and we got some open looks," said Fruendt, who scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half.
"I thought we were scrapping well on the defensive end. We got to a lot of loose balls with good hustle and heart. We just turned up our intensity."
Junior guard David Bryant, who attempted just 7 shots but finished with 15 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds, canned back-to-back 3-pointers late in the first quarter when the Bulldogs took the lead for good.
Senior guard Phil Albrecht shared scoring honors with 19 points, including three 3-pointers.
"I hit Phil a couple times and he knocked them down, which makes it much easier to be a passer when the guy who you're passing to makes something good out of it," said Fruendt, who missed 8 of his first 11 shots before regaining his touch during a 9-point final quarter.
"All my shots I thought were right on, but it's just that I've got to get my legs and arc on it (the ball) a little bit more."
Jordan Smith (7 points), Jordan Coffey (6), Ricky Clopton (4) and Stewart Charles (4 points, 3 steals) also contributed for the Bulldogs, who visit St. Charles East tonight.
"I thought we played with good passion and good purpose," said Batavia coach Jim Roberts. "For the vast majority of the game, I thought our ball movement, player movement was good.
"It's never an easy game (in Sycamore)."
It got a little easier, however, after the Bulldogs scored the first 9 points of the second half and extended their lead to 48-26.
"That's what we talked about in the locker room (at halftime)," said Fruendt. "We could kind of let the air out of their sails by jumping on them right out of the gate in the second half."