Glenbard West twins stymies Fenton
Twins Matthew and Michael Mache combined for 39 points to lead Glenbard West past Fenton 67-53 in the Glenbard West Holiday Classic on Tuesday.
The Hilltoppers held off both a third-quarter surge in offense from the Bison and a memorable performance by Fenton senior Dan Montano to capture the win.
Montano scored the first 23 of Fenton's 33 points, and finished with a game-high 35 points in the losing effort.
After trailing by 7 at halftime, the Bison came back to steal nearly all the momentum midway through the third quarter.
“Coming out in the beginning of the third quarter we didn't do a good job attacking their zone defense,” said Hilltoppers coach Tim Hoder.
Fenton cut the lead down to 1 and had the ball, but an inopportune turnover brought the ball and eventually the win to Glenbard West.
“We'll have little moments where there are letdowns for us,” Fenton coach Dennis Cromer said. “Our margin of error is so narrow, we can't afford to let a team have a run like that on us.”
Despite the Bison's inability to complete the comeback, Montano kept lighting up the scoreboard and spent almost no time on the bench.
“(Montano's) put himself in excellent shape and he's put himself there because we've needed his offense,” Cromer said,
Michael Mache continued to use all of his 6-foot-6 body to consistently score inside baskets throughout the final minutes of the third quarter. He finished with a team-high 26 points.
“I'm setting my mind to be more physical,” Michael Mache said. “It's a determination to outrebound and outhustle.”
Glenbard West was able to establish a comfortable lead in the first half thanks to Matthew Mache. He drilled three 3-pointers in the first quarter and added a fourth in the second quarter.
Playing in just his second game of the season due to injury, Hilltoppers guard Jeff Levesque made his presence felt. He scored 9 points and earning two trips to the free-throw line.
Getting Levesque back into the lineup is a key to the rest of the season for Glenbard West, according to Hoder.
“We have yet to have our whole team healthy at once,” Hoder said. “We feel like we're just getting started.”
Michael Mache said having Levesque back in the lineup is a confidence boost to the entire squad.
“I think we're coming together now,” Michael Mache said. “(Levesque) is back at the point and he'll definitely continue to help us.”