Driscoll denies Green Wave

Driscoll boys basketball coach Adam Szyszko didn't want to see the same thing happen again in his team's second matchup against St. Edward on Tuesday night.

The Highlanders saw an 18-point lead nearly go away 17 days ago because of the Green Wave's 3-point shooting. On Tuesday, after the Green Wave went on a 7-0 run capped by DJ Byrnes' 3-pointer to get within 2 late in the third quarter, Szyszko called a timeout and reminded his team to get out on St. Edward's shooters.

The Green Wave did not hit another 3-pointer and the Highlanders left Elgin with a 62-50 Suburban Catholic Conference victory.

"Their shooters are going to get shots. I told (my players) to keep their composure," Szyszko said about the timeout. "We wanted to get the ball inside and we did a really good job of pounding the ball inside and got good looks."

Driscoll (12-12, 6-7 SCC) held an 18-point lead going into the fourth quarter in the team's first meeting on Jan. 31. The Green Wave (8-17, 3-10) outscored Driscoll 27-10 before falling short 61-60.

After the Highlanders' key timeout Tuesday, 6-foot-7 Matt Kaban scored back-to-back baskets in the post to extend the lead to 6 at 43-37 with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter. Driscoll led by 7, 46-39, heading to the fourth.

"Last game they shot lights out in the fourth quarter," Kaban said. "That was one of our main focuses."

There was no rally this time. The Green Wave never got closer than 5 in the fourth.

Kaban led Driscoll with 19 points, 13 in the second half, and 8 rebounds. Mario Grana, Joe Calabrese and Alex Lazar each added 10 points.

Phil Johnson had 13 points to lead St. Edward, which hit seven 3-pointers in the first half but only one in the second. Byrnes had 10 points off the bench.

"When we hit the threes we play pretty good," Green Wave coach Keith Chuipek said. "We're not a team that's going to get the ball inside a lot, especially tonight. It's kind of live-or-die by the 3 tonight. We didn't make enough of them."