Redwings time run perfectly against Warriors
In a 32-minute dogfight, two made the difference.
A brief but brilliant third-quarter spurt of basketball gave Benet's boys team the margin it needed in a 59-54 win over Wheaton Academy Saturday in Lisle.
The Warriors took a 40-39 lead on Anthony Ritchie's basket, but Benet (8-12) responded with a 9-0 run to snag control at 48-40. After being hounded by Wheaton Academy and 6-foot-8 junior Tim Rusthoven for most of the night, the Redwings were finally ahead to stay.
"Everything just started flowing for us once we got our offense going," said Redwings guard Phil Hayes. "(Joe) Meyerhoff's a big presence in the middle, he opened up some shots. (Dave Sobolewski) getting in the lane whenever he wanted, Austin Wagner hitting some big shots. Everyone just stepped into their role."
Hayes did his part, especially during the 9-0 run. After Sobolewski scored, Hayes got a steal and a three-point play. He followed up with another basket before Mac Coffey's steal and basket made it 48-40.
Wheaton Academy committed only 3 third-quarter turnovers, but two came in that two-minute span late in the period. Adding insult to injury, the Warriors (12-7) cost themselves further by hitting only 9 of 19 free throws on the night.
"A couple of key turnovers in the third and we couldn't get back over that hump," said Warriors coach Paul Ferguson. "We lost focus for a minute or two there. That was costly."
The loss overshadowed a huge night from Rusthoven, who scored 29 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked 6 shots. But with no one else in double-figure scoring, Benet's balance won out.
Sobolewski's 18 points included 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 free-throw shooting. Hayes hit four 3-pointers while scoring 17 points and Wagner added two while scoring 10 points.
Meyerhoff started strong but was one of many Benet players saddled with first-half foul trouble. Two minutes into the second quarter - with Benet holding its biggest lead at 24-10 - four starters were hit with two fouls, forcing coach Gene Heidkamp to go deep into his bench.
Wheaton Academy rallied behind Rusthoven's 11 second-quarter points to take a 31-29 lead, but Benet recovered for a 35-33 halftime lead.
"Joe getting two fouls early hurt us because he was so effective," Heidkamp said. "But the other guys picked up the slack. We're starting to get some nice diversity in our scoring."
BOX SCORE
Benet 59, Wheaton Academy 54
Wheaton Academy - Albaugh 0 0-0 0, Streets 3 0-0 9, Gorski 3 0-0 6, Ritchie 3 2-4 8, Rusthoven 11 7-15 29, Pell 0 0-0 0, Lang 0 0-0 0, Nupanga 0 0-0 0, Fritz 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 9-19 54.
Benet - Sobolewski 6 6-6 18, Morris 1 0-0 2, Runger 1 0-2 2, Wagner 3 2-3 10, Meyerhoff 3 0-2 6, Hayes 6 1-1 17, Coffey 2 0-0 4, Flavin 0 0-0 0, Maag 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 9-1 59.
Wheaton Academy 10 23 9 12 -54
Benet 22 13 13 11 -59
3-point baskets: WA: Streets 3. B: Hayes 4, Wagner 2. Fouled out: None.