Leyden rains 3s on Blazers
Leyden has hit plenty of 3-pointers this season, but not even the Eagles remember seeing anything like the first three minutes of Tuesday's game at Addison Trail.
Scoring the game's first 15 points on a barrage of five straight 3s, Leyden led tip-to-buzzer in a 57-47 West Suburban Gold boys basketball victory.
"That first quarter, I haven't seen anything like that before," said Eagles senior guard Anthony Cushion, who nailed two of the team's seven first-quarter 3s. "We all got going, and when we bang shots we'll beat anybody."
Addison Trail (6-19, 2-10) paid for its early zone defense as Leyden missed only two first-quarter 3-pointers. The Eagles (11-15, 5-7) led 23-5 after one quarter and then scored the first 10 points of the second quarter - 6 points coming on another pair of 3s.
Not even a brief 6-0 run by the Blazers slowed Leyden, which took a commanding 35-11 lead to the half following Alex Regalado's steal and bucket. Mike Woolf, Cushion, Javi Lazcano and Regalado each hit 3-pointers.
Blazers coach Brendan Lyons knew the Eagles could shoot the ball, but he also remembered the first meeting when Regalado hurt Addison Trail with his dribble penetration. After trying to slow that, though, Leyden's outside shot shined.
"We knew they could shoot it, but Regalado really hurt us the first time," Lyons said. "When a team hits us with a 15-0 run, we're going to have an awfully hard time coming back. But I was proud of our guys in the second half."
He had good reason. The Blazers endured another 8-2 run while falling behind 43-13 midway through the third quarter, but they finally came alive for the final 12 minutes.
A 10-0 run narrowed the gap to 20 points and then a 14-5 run at the start of the fourth quarter pulled Addison Trail within 51-37. Leyden, however, hit just enough free throws in the waning minutes to keep plenty of distance from the Blazers.
"I give Addison Trail a lot of credit, they competed and fought hard," said Leyden coach Bill Heisler. "I was glad that down the stretch we made enough plays to secure the win, and that's what we came here to do. Leaving here with a big conference win, I'm very pleased."
Addison Trail scored the game's final 6 points to account for the final score - the closest the Blazers came since the opening minutes of the first quarter.
Ian Horvath scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half for the Blazers. Four Leyden players hit double figures including 12 points from Lazcano and Woolf, and 11 points from Regalado.
"I've been saying all year we can really shoot the ball," Heisler said. "Tonight it kind of came through. It wasn't anyone doing anything they're not capable of doing. It was guys hitting shots that they can make."
BOX SCORE
Leyden 57, Addison Trail 47
Leyden - Lazcano 5 0-2 12, Woolf 3 3-4 12, Cushion 5 1-2 16, Regalado 3 4-4 11, Borrentrager 0 2-2 2, Chaidez 0 0-0 0, Saboya 2 0-0 4, Stinson 0 0-0 0, Silmon 0 0-0 0, Stephens 0 0-0 0, Dionido 0 0-0 0, Weese 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 10-14 57.
Addison Trail - Turk 0 0-0 0, I. Horvath 8 2-2 20, Addante 1 1-1 3, Watson 0 1-2 1, Restivo 0 0-0 0, Grow 4 0-2 8, Thomas 3 0-0 6, Dimaris 1 1-2 3, Diamond 1 0-0 2, Spear 0 0-0 0, Gibbs 0 0-0 0, Ramir 1 0-0 2, T. Horvath 0 0-0 0, Babica 0 0-0 0, Mijares 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 5-9 47.
Leyden 23 12 11 11 -57
Addison Trail 5 6 12 24 -47
3-point baskets: L: Cushion 5, Woolf 3, Lazcano 2, Regalado; AT: I. Horvath 2.
Fouled out: AT: Turk.