Christian Liberty charging to nice start

Christian Liberty's boys basketball program is getting used to playing at a different level in its first year as a member of the IHSA and Northeastern Athletic Conference.

The Chargers weren't happy with the level they started off at in Tuesday night's nonconference game with visiting Faith Lutheran.

They trailed the second-year varsity program by 3 points midway through the first quarter and led by only 5 points midway through the second quarter. But that seemed to spark the Chargers (4-2) as they took control in a 55-42 victory at Grace Gym in Arlington Heights.

"It was kind of a lack of intensity and we were playing down to their level a little bit," said Christian Liberty coach Ken Kramer. "We wanted the same intensity we put up against Luther North."

The Chargers played what they believed was their best game of the year in a 58-57 NAC loss at Luther North on Friday.

"It could have been," Chargers senior Aaron Johnson said of a possible letdown. "But I think overall we played down to their level and we tend to do that. We relax on defense and we need to fix that."

The third 3-pointer by James White (13 points) got Faith Lutheran within 24-19 with 4:30 left in the first half. A runner in the lane by Michael Hennek (10 points) started a 16-point Christian Liberty run which bridged halftime.

Johnson scored half of his 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting, Nathan Elleson (10 points, 6 rebounds) and Matt Litzenberger scored off steals and Hennek scored twice after the break for a 40-19 lead.

"It was nerve-racking but we started to pull away," said Johnson, who also had 6 rebounds and played limited second-half minutes as Kramer got his younger reserves some work. "I'd say we're capable of playing better than that."

Sophomore Luke Comerouski also scored 11 points as the Chargers hit 20 of their first 34 shots and scored 29 points off 32 Saints' turnovers.

"We're better when we spread it out (offensively) and the other team doesn't know who to guard," Johnson said. "If we're all capable of scoring we're going to win some games."

The Chargers have only played two games with their regular lineup as Comerouski missed two games for an out-of-town commitment and sophomore guard Gabe Clayborne is out until early January with a tailbone injury.

"Our seniors (Johnson and Elleson) have played consistently," Kramer said. "The other guys have to have consistency no matter who they play against."