Melton pours in 28 as Antioch steamrolls

If Kyle Melton was a popular basketball teammate in the past because of his penchant to pass, the junior guard surely increased his appeal Monday night in Antioch's season opener.

Melton scored a career-high 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting, as the Sequoits rolled to a 76-43 win over first-year Woodstock North in opening-round action of the Coaches vs. Cancer Thanksgiving tournament at Prairie Ridge.

Antioch resumes the tournament Friday against Prairie Ridge.

"We did some good things physically," said Sequoits coach Mike Skinner, whose team had just 5 wins last season. "I've been running them a lot more."

Antioch hit its first two shots from the floor in the game's first half minute and never slowed up. Kyle Haley (13 points, 5 steals) and Melton each sank three baskets in the first quarter in helping the Sequoits build a 14-7 lead.

Melton's first half included a driving, spinning layup.

"Freshman and sophomore year, and during the summer when I play on my travel teams, I'm usually a passer," said the 6-foot Melton, who's played on varsity since his freshman year. "Being a point guard, I try to pass the ball and get everybody involved. But his year I'm trying to score more."

Those are orders from his head coach, actually.

"He can handle the ball," Skinner said. "No one takes it from him. He protects it well. His first instinct when he drives has always been to pass it. Everybody loves playing with Kyle because he's going to pass it.

"I told him, 'You got to be a little selfish. Go in there, score first and get yourself going. Then when the defense comes with two or three guys, then you dish it to everybody else.' "

Antioch led 39-16 at halftime and was able to keep its comfortable margin in the third quarter thanks to Melton, who for the most part kept the ball in his hands. He scored 13 points, including his lone 3-pointer, making 5 of 6 shots.

"We do a lot of shooting in practice," Melton said. "It helps."

Chris Terzic added 9 points and 8 rebounds for Antioch.

Woodstock North, which does not have any seniors in its building, was led by Bobby Rakoncay's 10 points.

Wheaton North 49, LZ 38: Wheaton North engineered a 10-0 run in the third quarter and went on to beat Lake Zurich 49-38 at the first annual Ed Molitor tournament in Palatine. In the season opener for both teams, the Bears trailed 27-17 at halftime before rallying to close the gap to 34-32 late in the third quarter.

The Bears were paced on offense by 10 points from Chris Baumann.