Yarbrough, Zion handle Stevenson

Zion-Benton senior Markus Yarbrough had less than 48 hours to get over the Zee-Bees' first loss of the season to Warren on Wednesday night.

For Yarbrough and teammate Quintrell Love, that was too long.

"We were still really upset about the way we played against Warren on Wednesday," said the Tennessee-Martin bound Yarbrough. "We took that loss hard and I took it hard."

Yarbrough and the Bees made amends for the loss to Warren by opening North Suburban Conference Lake division play against visiting Stevenson. Not that Yarbrough needed any additional motivation, but the Patriots were the only team to beat Zion at home last year.

Thanks to a 19-point, 13-rebound effort that included 4 blocked shots from Yarbrough, Zion won its home opener 55-39 Friday night to improve to 6-1 overall, 1-1 in league play.

"We couldn't stop him," Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose said of Yarbrough. "He fouled out one of our guys and almost another - he was just a beast tonight."

While Yarbrough was dominating in the paint, Stevenson junior Nate Johnson made sure that Ohio State-bound junior Lenzelle Smith wouldn't do the same damage outside. Smith, who lit up Warren for 39 points two nights ago, was held to just 4 points on 1 of 6 from the field.

"We got beat by Zion-Benton tonight," Ambrose said. "But Nate certainly didn't get beat tonight."

Zion broke open a tight game late in the third quarter with a 10-4 spurt that opened its margin to 38-29 with 2:09 to go in the third quarter. This after Stevenson pulled within 33-29 halfway through the quarter on a short baseline jumper by Henry Wood (6 points).

The Bees then hit Stevenson (3-2, 0-1) with another 10-2 burst to end the third quarter and open the fourth, sending the lead to double figures for the first time at 46-34.

Zion really hit the Patriots on defense as well, holding Stevenson without a field goal over the final 8:37.

"We would get a few baskets and then (Zion) would, but we just couldn't get a basket when we needed one or a stop when we needed to get a stop," Johnson said.

Yarbrough played a big role during the game-clinching run with 6 of his points coming during the last 10-2 spurt.

"I just tried to focus on staying active and not standing around," he said. "Any given night any of the guys on this team can go out and have a big game."

Johnson was the lone bright spot on offense for a Patriot team that played without senior Grant Johnson who injured his ankle in practice and is expected to be lost until after Christmas. Nate Johnson led Stevenson in scoring with 11 points. Love also was in double figures for Zion with 12 points.

Cary-Grove 58, Grayslake North 38: At Cary, the Knights suffered their first loss of the season.

Matt Pucher's 10 points led Grayslake North (4-1) in the Fox Valley Conference crossover.

Cary-Grove led only 37-31 after three quarters before outscoring the Knights 21-7 in the fourth.

Chad McCarron led the Trojans in scoring with 19 points.