Harper College loses fourth straight

After losing three straight games at the William R. Bear Classic at Highland Community College last Friday and Saturday, the 5-8 Harper College men’s basketball squad, looked to bounce back Tuesday night when it hosted 5-7 Olive-Harvey.

However things did not go as hoped for the Hawks as the Panthers came away with a 87-73 nonconference victory in Palatine.

Early on it appeared both teams would be in for a nail-bitting finish. That would not manifest itself as Olive Harvey went on a 20-4 tear to take a 43-34 halftime lead.

“We pushed the ball and played our game“ said Panther guard Deven Williams of the spurt. Williams accounted for 41 percent of the Panthers’ scoring with 36 points.

“He’s a very, very talented kid. (Willams) is a flat-out athlete, he looks like a football player and he shoots the ball (well),” said Harper coach Tony Amarino of Williams. The second half would not fare much better for the home side. The Hawks, still rattled by the up-tempo pace set by Olive Harvey in the first half, either missed easy shots or made easy shots more difficult than necessary.

The Panthers would see the lead balloon to as many as 22 points. The Hawks were led in scoring by three players — Kyler Market (Willowbrook) had 24 and was followed by Connor Miklasz (Hersey) with 10 and Horace Grant Jr. (Deerfield) with 7 points.