Schaumburg clinches MSL West title

While Schaumburg was clinching the Mid-Suburban West title Friday night, head coach Matt Walsh wasn’t exactly thrilled with how they did it at Palatine.

“We didn’t come out with good focus tonight,” he said after a 48-43 victory, “and it really affected our execution. We allowed it to affect our defense.”

Then again, “Palatine had a lot to do with that,” he added as the Saxons (19-5, 8-1) wrapped up the West and the MSL title-game berth with Barrington losing 77-73 in overtime to Hoffman Estates.

Indeed the Pirates did, never quitting, even after entering the final quarter down 37-27 and trailing by as much as 41-27 early in the fourth. Greg Grana (10 points) hit a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers and John Millin added another as the Pirates chipped within 47-43 late.

But through it all, one Saxon stood tall. Michael Mallett (16 points) came up big when they needed him most. His 10 third-quarter points, all from the field, were all on clutch, difficult shots with Pirates hanging on him as he picked up the slack for injured Kyle Bolger and Thomas Byrne.

Bolger went down with a collarbone injury diving for a loose ball, taking his trio of 3-pointers and 10 points overall to the bench with him. Byrne’s steadying play was missed when Palatine turned up the pressure late. Plus, 6-foot-5 junior center Jimmy Lundquist was in foul trouble all night.

“I think Mike Mallett came up huge,” said Walsh.

“Mallett manned up tonight,” said Palatine (2-22, 1-8) head coach Eric Millstone. “Whoever we put on him, he had his way.”

He didn’t score in the fourth quarter, but Schaumburg only took five shots from the field and Joe Faleni, who did a nice job standing in at point, Christian Spandiary and burly Bobby Greene hit just enough free throws to hold off the pesky Pirates.

Palatine was paced by Grana and freshman Roosevelt Smart, who both had 10 points. Smart provided a boost in the second quarter when he entered the game and Grana, Millstone observed, just may be better offensively than he ever gave himself credit for.

In the end though, “Mallett willed us to a win tonight,” Walsh said. “Tonight was a real battle. That was a testament to Palatine.”