Saxons' effort D-lightful
Schaumburg set out to make a solid case about its defense in Friday night's Mid-Suburban West boys basketball showdown with Conant.
The Saxons' opening statement was a little shaky as it allowed 20 points in the first 10 minutes to the two-time defending MSL champions.
But Schaumburg became much more forceful and didn't allow a point the next 61/2 minutes. The verdict was a decisive 62-43 victory.
"Our mindset coming in was to play big defensively," said Schaumburg junior guard Declan Geraghty.
"They're saying how good their defense is, and it was good," Schaumburg senior guard Cully Payne said of Conant allowing only 39 points a game. "I think our defense is what's been holding us in every game so far."
Schaumburg (9-0, 3-0) matched its season-low for points allowed and Payne scored 19 of his 27 in the second half for the most points Conant (5-2, 2-1) has surrendered this season.
While Geraghty didn't score, he helped limit Conant scoring leader Tim Gilhooly to 9 of his 17-point average.
"Our whole team can play defense," Geraghty said. "We can file guys in to play defense and wear the other team down so by the end of the night they're too tired to play."
Conant hit 7 of its first 10 shots but finished at 40 percent from the field (16-for-40) and committed 23 turnovers. Tony Rizzo scored all 6 of his points in the first quarter and fouled out with 6:31 left.
"We've got the athletic ability and quickness on the perimeter to get that done," Schaumburg coach Bob Williams said of his defense. "The kids really believe in it and believe for us to be successful we need to play defense first."
Conant led 20-16 when Gilhooly scored off his own miss six minutes before halftime. A pair of free throws by Chris Kelly quietly started a 16-0 run that gave Schaumburg a double-digit lead the final 16:42.
A loud chant of "overrated" from the Conant student section sparked the Alabama-bound Payne after he missed 4 of his first 5 shots and a free throw. He had a hand in 12 of the next 14 points, including a coast-to-coast drive and a tough fadeaway jumper in the lane and assists to Justin Swiercz (10 points) for a 3 and Kelly for a layup.
"I hear that," Payne smiled after shooting 9-for-17 from the field and 4-for-6 on 3s with 5 assists and 5 rebounds. "Some of the Conant guys started talking a little bit. My biggest thing is don't talk trash. It just gets me more fired up."
Conant had 6 turnovers and missed 4 free throws - including two 1-and-1s - in the run.
"All of us are really disappointed," Conant coach Tom McCormack said. "We literally didn't give ourselves a chance missing free throws (8-for-21) and giving up too many offensive rebounds (12 of Schaumburg's 30-24 overall advantage)."