Manteno holds off Lisle

The Manteno and Lisle boys basketball teams shared a common advantage going into Friday night’s game on the Lions’ home court. Each team had fresh memories of the other.

The teams had battled just two weeks ago to the day in an opening game of the Interstate Eight Conference Tournament, with the Lions prevailing by 6.

That game had firm footing in the Panthers’ memory.

“What hurt us in that first game was that (the Lions) were getting a lot of easy touches down low in the second half. The focus tonight was to make them work for everything they got,” Manteno coach Doug Wenzel said.

Misson accomplished.

The Panthers (14-7) showed excellent ball control late and made just enough free throws to win 51-46 in a conference crossover game.

Lisle (7-15) led 43-40 with 4:35 left in the contest when Manteno’s J.J. Witherow, who racked up a game-high 20 points, sank two of his four free throws for the quarter. Jake Riberdy made a free throw just 20 seconds later and Joe DiLeo sank a 3-point basket to put the Panthers up 46-43.

Both teams’ offenses went silent for the next 1:12, but what was truly crucial in that time span was that Manteno was controlling the ball and eating clock.

Lisle’s Phil Palicka made his first 3-pointer of the night to pull the Lions to within 47-46 with 1:25 left. But for most of the remainng time, Manteno had the ball. The Lions were forced to foul and the Panthers sank four more free throws.

“I’m proud of our fight,” Lisle coach Mark LaScala said. “But I don’t think we came out with enough defensive intensity in the first quarter with giving up 20 points.”

Manteno shot 8 of 11 in the first eight minutes to lead 20-10.

A big factor in Lisle trailing just 27-24 at halftime and keeping pace in the third quarter was the effort of junior Kazim Khan off the bench. He scored all of his team-high 14 points in the second and third quarters, including three 3-point baskets, before fouling out early in the fourth quarter.

“Kazim is going to be a very aggressive player (when he goes into the game), and he provided some energy for us. He did a nice job on (Witherow),” LaScala said.

Lisle won’t have much time to dwell on the loss as the Lions travel to Streator tonight to take on Woodland High School.

“It’s a long road trip and an early game (5:30 p.m.), so a short turnaround. But if we play four quarters I like our chances,” LaScala said.