Mustangs rally; Grens cruise
Rolling Meadows overcame an early 9-point deficit to pull out a 47-45 win over Libertyville on Friday at Fenton's Chuck Mitchell boys basketball tournament.
Richie Kemph scored a game-high 20 points and hit four 3-pointers and freshman Brian Nelms (10 points) scored to put the Mustangs (2-2) ahead to stay in the final two minutes.
"We played much more team-oriented and let the shots come to us in the offense," said Meadows coach Kevin Katovich.
Katovich was also happy wih the play of 6-foot-2 Teddy Metzger (7 points) and 6-3 Jimmy Garoppolo inside against the taller Wildcats. Will Trunk (6 points) hit a couple of big shots and Dan Wenzel gave a nice boost with his hustle.
Elk Grove 45, Fenton 23: Matt Martinski (15 points), Donny Duschinsky (9) and Brian Battaglia (8) led Elk Grove (1-3) in the seventh-place game at Fenton.
"Everyone did their part," said Grens coach Anthony Furman. "We really locked it down and that's what we learned about the game against Glenbrook South (57-51 loss Wednesday)."
The Grenadiers trailed GBS and 6-8 Notre Dame signee Jack Cooley 34-16 at halftime. They allowed only 7 third-quarter points and twice late in the game had the ball with a 4-point deficit.
Martinski scored 16 and Tim Furlong and Robert Hult added 12 and 10 respectively.
Loyola 76, Maine West 51: Stats sometimes do tell the story. Maine West was looking to secure it's first win of the season at the Mundelein tournament against Loyola.
The Warriors turned the ball over 11 times in the first half. The Ramblers took advantage by scoring 15 points. Maine West on the other hand could not score off of 8 Rambler turnovers.
Maine West fell behind 48-30 at halftime and dropped to 0-3 with the 76-51 loss to the Ramblers.
"It is a big stat," said Maine West coach Erik McNeill of the turnovers. "We need to handle the ball better and take better shots. We just gave up too many easy baskets.
"In the first 5 minutes we played well, then they started capitalizing on our turnovers."
Nate Anderson led Maine West with 13 points and Alex Seiler had 8 points. Matt Sullivan led Loyola with 25 points.
- Greg Swiderski
Palatine 58, Niles North 38: Nat Pearson (17 points), Mark Knoeppel (11) and Tommy Johlie (10) led Eric Millstone to his first win in charge of the Palatine (1-2) program in the Niles West tourney. Millstone was 1-3 as an interim coach in 2000-01.
Rich South 69, Wheeling 53: Michael Barton (16 points), James Kurtz (13) and Robert Carter (12 points, 7 rebounds) led Wheeling (1-2) in the consolation championship loss at Niles West.