Grens stay with successful script

Put together a great first half of basketball and protect the lead in the second half.

Elk Grove's boys followed that script to the letter Saturday and broke through with a 59-46 win over Wheeling, the Grens' (6-12, 1-5) first Mid-Suburban East win of the season.

Elk Grove outscored Wheeling (6-11, 2-4) 16-7 in both the first and second quarters to lead 32-14 at halftime. The Greens were able to attack the basket with a strong inside game. They outrebounded the visitors 23-7 and won the turnover battle 10-5 in the first 16 minutes.

Donny Duschinsky scored 13 of his team-best 15 points in the first half, while Tim Furlong added 7 and Matt Martinski scored 6.

"Last time (a 49-39 loss at Wheeling), we dominated their man defense, and they threw a zone at us," Furlong (13 points) said. "This time no defense could stop us. It was one of our better halves this year."

"We have been putting good halves together," said Elk Grove coach Anthony Furman. "Wheeling came out with a ton of energy in the second half. It was a hard-fought half, which is the nature of the MSL."

The Wildcats cut the lead to 39-26 after three and got as close as 51-40 with 3:18 remaining, but the Grens kept their composure and didn't wilt under Wheeling's pressure.

J.J. Lastovich (10 points) was a fixture on the free throw line in the fourth quarter, converting 4-of-9 and making a pair of baskets to help preserve the lead.

"They just out-hustled us and outworked us in the first half," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool. "For whatever reason, we just don't show up to play sometimes. It's been a struggle all year."

Wheeling's James Kurtz led all scorers with 23 points, and teammate Robert Carter added 9.

Elk Grove played the final quarter-and-a-half without Matt Martinski, who suffered a knee injury in a fall after driving to the basket.

The extent of Martinski's injury wasn't known after the game. Adding insult to injury, Martinski's shot was disallowed on offensive basket interference.