Conant defends home court against Schaumburg

In winning 19 games and claiming Conant's first regional title since 2007, the returning members from last year's Conant boys basketball team had many wonderful memories, including:

• Winning four of five at the York Holiday Tournament, which earned them the consolation title.

• Beating MSL champ Barrington 2 out of 3 times, including the second victory in the regional final.

But to a man, there was one memory that was hard to swallow - losing twice to rival Schaumburg.

Consider that memory erased, at least for for now.

Behind a 14-2 second quarter surge and a defensive effort that held the visiting Saxons to a 10-for-29 shooting performance, the home team cruised to a 41-26 win at Perry Gym in Hoffman Estates on Friday evening in the MSL West opener for both squads.

After a hoop in the paint from Schaumburg freshman guard Hezzy Trotter knotted the score at 12 with 5:58 left in the first half, the game's decisive surge by the Cougars (3-1, 1-0) took place. It started and ended with baskets from junior guard Jimmy Sotos, who had 7 of his game-high 13 points in that span. The last bucket came with just a tick remaining in the half on a 3-pointer that gave Conant a 26-14 lead at the break. The Saxons (0-5, 0-1) would get no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

"We talked about how we owed them from last year, and we wanted to be able to successfully defend our home court,"

Sotos said. "We wanted to be aggressive and extend them on both sides of the floor. Now we're one of three teams (that begin division play) at 1-0."

"I was pleased with how our defense was tonight," Conant coach Tom McCormack stated. "We never let down our intensity. It helps when you have a deep bench that plays not only well, but hard and smart also."

Leading that effort for the Cougars was 6-foot-8 junior transfer Mike Downing (St. Joseph), who added 11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.

"Right now he maintains our level of intensity and aggressiveness coming off," McCormack said. "As he gets more familiar with everyone, he's becoming better with his execution."

"He keeps showing more and more with each game," Sotos added.

Junior forward Kameron Powell paced the visitors with 9 points, followed by Trotter, who had 6 in his varsity debut.

For Schaumburg and first-year head coach Wade Heisler, who was congratulated on the birth of his daughter Piper last week via a pregame announcement, he'll get to go on his home floor Saturday night when the Saxons host Buffalo Grove in an MSL crossover.

"I can't wait to get home. We have to be able to get off to a good start and be just as fired up as we were to start this evening," Heisler said.

Conant is also in action Saturday, hosting Rolling Meadows at 6 p.m. in another MSL crossover.