BG seniors leave mark of success

A 20-20-20-20 vision is tough to focus on for a freshman.

"I never understood the meaning of a 20-win season," Paul Timko said of when he arrived at Buffalo Grove and was promoted to the varsity four years ago.

Unfortunately for the Bison, the time arrived Tuesday night to contemplate the meaning of what the boys basketball program accomplished the last four years.

They hung close in the first half and made a valiant run midway through the second half. But top-seed Zion-Benton sped away to an 88-67 victory in a Class 4A sectional semifinal at Barrington.

It ended a magical ride for a close bunch who had been in the program for four years -- Timko, Brian DeSimone, Chris Timberg, Mike Ricciardi, Matt Pettit, Evan Kander and Fred Cornely.

A record of 85-30 overall and 31-9 in Mid-Suburban East play. Two trips to the MSL title game. Three regional titles.

"I talked to those seniors in particular," said BG coach Ryan O'Connor, "and I said if you made a list of teams around the state with graduating seniors who won 20 all four years and have been to three sectionals, it would be a pretty short list."

And there was no shame in the teams they came up short against the last three years. Glenbrook South with current Northwestern player Jeff Ryan, a Stevenson team that finished fourth in the state last year and a Zion team now 29-3 with oodles of talent.

"No regrets," said the 6-foot Timko, who showed no fear taking the ball to the basket even though 6-7 Markus Yarbrough was often waiting.

"We played with a lot of heart," Timberg said after hitting four 3s, "but good athletes are going to make good plays out there sometimes."

The Bison made their share, too. Ricciardi was phenomenal with 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting.

DeSimone showed his guts by playing on a left knee that was badly injured late in Friday's regional championship. O'Connor and assistant Dave Szcepanski weren't sure what they would get out of their star guard.

They got what you would expect. Nearly 30 minutes with 9 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and no excuses afterward.

"I owe it to the team," said DeSimone, who will have an MRI on the knee later this week. "There's always another game to play. We've been together so many times you can't sit out the last game."

BG hoped it wouldn't be the last one as it sliced a 15-point deficit to five with 6½ minutes left. Then sophomore Lenzelle Smith made one of the biggest plays of a 30-point night with a tip-in 3-point play.

"For a second I thought we had them," Timko said.

It was the beginning of the end for a senior group that set standards that will be tough to match.

"Throughout the playoffs I was never nervous going into a game regardless of who we were facing," Timko said. "The one thing that scared me when it did happen was this feeling."

But in time, it will be replaced by a better feeling of what was accomplished.