Glenbard East can't catch Bolingbrook

Diamond Taylor glided in for a fastbreak layup a minute into the game, and moments later threw down a dunk ahead of the Glenbard East defense.

The Rams never quite could catch up.

No. 3 seed Bolingbrook broke out to an early seven-point lead and never let go, beating No. 6 Glenbard East 61-57 at Friday's Class 4A Glenbard West regional championship in Glen Ellyn.

"I give them a lot of credit," Rams coach Scott Miller said, "they came out much more aggressive than we were. We never quite could get over the hump."

Bolingbrook (20-6) scored on five of its first six possessions, a 3-pointer and jumper by junior guard Ryan Walker giving the Raiders an 11-4 advantage halfway through the first quarter.

"We wanted to get out to a good start and that's what we did," Raiders coach Robert Brost said.

The Raiders led 24-14 three minutes into the second quarter, but Glenbard East (20-7) clawed back to within 25-20 at half behind Lee Skinner's 9 first-half points.

Not helping the Rams' cause, though, senior forward Paul Sanders sat most of the first three quarters with foul trouble.

Sanders, averaging 14.1 points per game, finally got his first basket a minute into the fourth quarter. He promptly was whistled for his fifth foul away from the ball on offense 32 seconds later.

"It was disappointing that we didn't get a chance to play him more," Miller said, "but it is what it is."

A Jack Merrithey score off a turnover a minute into the third quarter pulled Glenbard East within 25-22, but Walker knocked down a jumper at the other end. The Rams never pulled closer than 5 until Zach Miller's 3-pointer in the game's final seconds.

Zach Miller hit his first 3-point try, but Glenbard East missed its next 13 attempts until Johnny Hill's with 3:20 left in the game.

"They have some good shooters," Taylor said, "that was our game plan, was to try to stop (Miller) and (Merrithey)."

Wisconsin recruit Taylor scored 15 points and Troy Snyder 13 for Bolingbrook, which clinched its first regional title since 1994 and plays Naperville Central on Wednesday at the Oswego East sectional.

"We have more work to do," Brost said. "Naperville Central is going to be a tough challenge."

Miller scored 21 points, Skinner 14 and Merrithey 13 for Glenbard East. All three return next year.

"We got a lot of kids coming back," coach Miller said, "and I thought that was the difference. Bolingbrook is senior-dominated and they played like they have a little more experience than we do."