Timothy smooth as silk in win over Glenbard S.

Every year Timothy Christian coach Ryan DeKoekkoek breaks out a gaudy cream, gold and black silk shirt he bought in a Chinese silk factory to wear for his team's home opener.

Every year his wife tells him to throw it back in the closet afterward.

Maybe he should keep it on call for the next big game.

DeKoekkoek's Trojans built an 18-point lead on defending Metro Suburban Conference champion Glenbard South and weathered a Raiders rally for a 44-32 win on Friday in Elmhurst.

Glenbard South went unbeaten in the league last year and was barely challenged. It's a new-look, young Raiders team now a new year in the league for sure.

"They're the only team that we didn't beat in conference last year," DeKoekkoek said, "and there's a sense of pride in ourselves. We want to beat good programs and (Raiders coach) Julie (Fonda) does a great job. We know they will be tougher the second time around. But I'm still awfully proud of my kids."

Tessa Bosman scored 16 points for Timothy Christian (4-1, 2-0), 9 of those coming in the first quarter. Not only did the Trojans handle Glenbard South's fullcourt pressure, but Bosman and Co. repeatedly beat their opponent downcourt for layups.

"We always try to score within 10 seconds," Bosman said. "I got a lot of easy baskets from sprinting down court."

"Praise the Lord for scouting reports," DeKoekkoek said. "If you beat their pressure, you got to attack it."

A Patrice Hicks score and an assist in the game's first minutes gave Glenbard South (4-3, 0-1) its only two leads, but the Raiders' lone senior starter was hindered by foul trouble. She finished with 8 points but barely played half the game.

Without her Fonda was throwing primarily sophomores and freshmen out there, and it showed.

"That's what you get when you have three or four freshmen and sophomores out there. You can't expect them to know it all in week five," Fonda said. "It's a matter of time before we click."

Timothy Christian led 26-15 at the half, and a Bosman basket midway through the third quarter made it 33-15. Glenbard South closed the quarter on an 11-0 run, Hicks throwing in a fadeaway jumper as time expired.

But the Raiders went scoreless the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, and Timothy Christian pulled away.

"We went totally cold," Fonda said. "We got the shots we wanted, but they didn't fall. Timothy Christian executed and we really didn't."

Stingy halfcourt man-to-man defense is indeed what the Trojans hang their hat on.

"We demand toughness out of our girls defensively," DeKoekkoek said. "They might not like running those drills over and over again in practice, but they leave the gym happy tonight."

Cassidy Block had 15 points and 8 rebounds for Timothy Christian and also made 13 of 14 free throws. Theresa Scheet led Glenbard South with 9 points.