Bench strength helps Stevenson top Libertyville

Finding ways to win these days for Stevenson’s boys basketball team simply means taking a good look along the bench.

The Patriots got big contributions from Troy Radtke, who shared team-high scoring honors with 13 points, and Colby Cashaw (12 points, 9 rebounds). And both came off the bench to do it.

Stevenson got past rival Libertyville 48-45 in a North Suburban Lake Division tilt in Lincolnshire on Friday night.

“Actually, I enjoy coming off the bench,” Radtke said. “Because starting, there’s a lot of pressure and you’ve got to start the game off hot. Doing it this way you can pick up the intensity.”

Radtke fed off the intensity in the final stages of the fourth quarter for Stevenson (9-8, 3-4).

Libertyville (8-9, 2-5) held a 41-40 advantage until Radtke had a well-timed steal, made a layup and converted a free throw for a 3-point play which put the Patriots up for good at 43-41 with 1:48 remaining,

“It was great to hear the fans to get into it,” said Radtke, who scored 7 fourth-quarter points. “Usually we don’t get a lot of fans, but it was nice to see a lot more for this game.”

Radtke added 2 more free throws that made the score 45-41 with 36 seconds left.

Libertyville tried to respond in the final 9 seconds and closed within a basket on a layup by Ryan Barth (10 points).

But the Patriots closed things out by making 3 of 5 free throws, 2 from Ryan Chapman (13 points) and 1 from Cody Stern.

Radtke also blocked a Libertyville 3-point attempt as time expired.

“It’s always a tough battle with Stevenson,” Libertyville coach Scott Bogumil said. “(Stevenson) finished and we didn’t. That’s the bottom line. It was a well-played game on both sides.

“Stevenson finished the game at the end. It wasn’t anything Stevenson did, we just didn’t finish it.”

Ellis Mathews led the Wildcats with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The victory marked the second time Stevenson has gone over the .500 mark — and the first since being 2-1 early in the season. The Patriots have have won 6 of their last 7 games.

“We played tough against (Libertyville) and they played tough against us,” Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose said. “We’ve been playing them for a long time.

“We really didn’t play up the rivalry and don’t feel we need too. We just need to play good basketball. Right now we’re marching forward, taking steps forward after a slow start and working hard at it.”