Stevenson teams up in triumph

It’s clear Zion-Benton has a special sophomore in Malik Yarbrough.

He proved that point on Friday night in Lincolnshire by scoring 33 points without breaking much of a sweat.

But in the team game of basketball, it takes more than one player.

The vastly improved Patriots (4-1) opened up double digit leads in the second half. Even Yarbrough’s late three-point attack wasn’t enough for the Zee-Bees.

Stevenson made a statement in the NSC Lake Division with an impressive 67-59 victory.

“Malik is a heck of a player,’’ said Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose. “He’s all of that and a bag of chips. But we came out with a lot of energy tonight and moved the ball around. We are definitely improved.”

The Pats did bring back a few players from last year who are making an early impression. Michael Fleming fired in four three-pointers on the way to 27 points. Fellow senior Colby Cashaw proved to be a handful for the Zee-Bees as he checked in with 17 points.

“We have a better offense,” Cashaw said. “We have more individual players.’”

Cashaw admits he’s feeling much confident this season.

“Last year, I was kind of nervous,” he said. “Now I’m just playing my

game.”

Yarbrough couldn’t quite keep up with the Stevenson 3-point attack.

Fleming led all players with 4 3-pointers but he had some help. Both Danny Nowak’s 3-pointers came in the second half.

The Patriots welcomed back Nowak to the lineup following a concussion that he sustained in football season.

“He didn’t have a lot of practice,’’ Ambrose said.

Freshman guard Jalen Brunson also found the net from 3-point land.

The Zee-Bees’ last lead came at 10-7 with less than three minutes to play in the opening quarter. That advantage disappeared following a 5-point run from Fleming and a 3-point play from Cashaw.

Zion-Benton was within striking distance in the second half. Two Yarbrough free throws cut the Pats’ lead to 33-29.

And then two Pats came off the bench to add some firepower. Within a minute junior guard Andy Stempel had his first 5 points of the game. His 3-pointer opened up a 41-29 lead.

Nowak had all of his nine points in the second half.

Stevenson looked in control when Fleming scored to make it 62-49. There were less than four minutes to play in the contest.

Yarbrough’s 3-pointers cut the Pats’ lead to 62-57. Fleming closed the Zee-Bees out with his personal 7-point run to end this game.

“Fleming is so consistent with his shot,’’ Cashaw noted.