Gunner Gilhooly helps keep Conant tied for first
Tim Gilhooly would be the first to tell you about the team effort in Conant's 59-37 victory over visiting Palatine on Friday night.
Even though Gilhooly led Conant (14-5, 6-2 Mid-Suburban West) with 20 points, he was quick to point out what helped the Cougars capture the win.
"Everyone did a great job around the basket," Gilhooly said. "There were timely steals, blocked shots, assists and rebounds. We also had a big momentum swing."
That swing was a 17-0 run that began late in the first quarter and carried over into the second.
With Palatine (3-18, 1-7) holding a 8-4 lead, Conant finished the quarter with an 8-0 run.
Garrett Gatz's steal and basket tied the game at 8-8. Tim Lomas scored back-to-back baskets to give Conant a 12-8 edge heading into the second quarter.
A 9-0 run featuring a Gatz steal and a basket plus an assist on Cameron Leavitt's 3-point basket helped swell the Cougars' lead to 21-8 before Michael Orris' basket broke the Pirates' drought with 2:06 left in the half.
Palatine trailed 29-14 at the intermission and could not recover.
"The game turned around once we made a few hustle plays," said Cougars coach Tom McCormack, "Garrett's steal and basket was the change in the momentum. A lot of players filled their roles tonight. On defense, Tony Rizzo created a lot of havoc with tipped passes and deflections."
Gilhooly, who hit five 3-point baskets, connected for four from long range in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
"As a team, we sometimes struggle a little bit," Gilhooly said. "But then something happens and we get an intensity change. We knew Palatine would come out hungry tonight and we could not afford a letdown."
Matt Rossi led the Pirates with 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Nat Pearson added 7 points.
"We were hoping for a little better effort tonight," said Pirates coach Eric Millstone. "We came out tentative. Conant threw a lot of things at us both offensively and defensively. There's no doubt that run hurt us. Conant showed tonight why they are always near the top of the conference race. They do so many things well."