Glenbard East trumps Dundee-Crown 66-57

Glenbard East handled a tougher holiday tournament challenge about as well as possible.

A 66-57 victory over Dundee-Crown on Saturday gave the Rams (9-3) a 3-1 record and fifth place in the 34th annual Elgin Holiday boys basketball tournament at Chesbrough Fieldhouse. Their only loss was to tourney champion Neuqua Valley.

"Obviously we wanted to come in and win it," said Glenbard East junior guard Jack Merrithey, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the final 5:18. "After the loss to Neuqua we knew we had a shot at fifth - and we're happy with fifth place."

Merrithey's sophomore running mate Zach Miller hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 of his team-high 22 points in the first half for the Rams in their first trip to Elgin after going to Lemont last year.

"We certainly came here to play some tougher competition and we did that," said Glenbard East coach Scott Miller. "We certainly leave here knowing where some of our (strengths and weaknesses) are and where we can grow as a team."

Glenbard East took a 39-22 lead 51 seconds into the second half. But the inspired inside play of 6-foot-6 Charles Kimbrough (8 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks) and the shooting off Jeff Beck, who came off the bench to score 22 points, got D-C within 48-46 with 6:12 to play.

"In the second half you kind of saw the team how we can play," said D-C coach Lance Huber. "Unfortunately for us it was a little too late."

A 3 and a steal-and-layup by Merrithey put Glenbard East up 56-48. D-C got within 2 points two more times - the last at 59-57 with 1:09 left - but Merrithey's 2 free throws started a 7-0 closing run in the last 1:01.

"They (D-C) hit some big shots and executed but we did a good job down at the end of keeping our composure," Miller said.

"We reminded each other to take care of the ball and rebound," Merrithey said, "and we'll win this game."