Boys basketball: Palatine powers past Fremd
Palatine’s Tony Balanganayi is used to being inside mixing things up.
The sophomore, who’s been getting some interest for his abilities on the football field, has been showing off his basketball prowess in the past week.
After scoring 25 points last week, Balanganayi followed up with a 13-point and five-rebound effort Monday night. That helped power the Pirates to a 61-48 home victory over crosstown rival Fremd.
“I just have been working hard,” said Balanganayi, who is 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds.
“Tony just keeps making strides,” said Palatine coach Eric Millstone. “The best part of him is that he just continues to get better. It is what we need. To be successful, you have to be able to score inside. Tony is a physical presence and is getting better with his touch.”
It was a rare Monday game for the long-time rivals due to a rescheduling of their Jan. 12 meeting that was postponed due to heavy snow. But despite the Monday game, there was a large and boisterous crowd on hand.
They saw Fremd (13-7, 3-3) jump out to 19-11 first quarter lead. The Vikings were able to do that by converting 8 of 13 shots from the field, including a trio of three pointers.
Palatine (17-6, 5-1), which remained tied with Barrington in the MSL West, went inside to Balanganayi on its first possession of the second quarter. That set the tone for a more physical play by the Pirates.
Palatine went on a 10-0 run on their way to outscoring Fremd 21-4 in the period to take a 32-23 lead at the break. The Pirates forced four Viking turnovers in the quarter and limited Fremd to 1-of-6 shooting in the period.
After a pair of free throws by Balanganayi put Palatine up 34-23 early in the third quarter, Fremd mounted its comeback.
The Vikings slowly chipped away at the lead behind Jordan Wiliams (13 points, 7 rebounds), Ryan Cox (13 points), Sam Hirsch (11 points) and Daniel Ko (9 points). Fremd was able to cut the lead to 43-41 with 6:54 to play on a three-pointer by Cox.
But Palatine turned up the defensive pressure from there.
With the Vikings having a possession and a chance to tie, the Pirates came up with the first of five consecutive Fremd possessions that would end in a turnover. Palatine turned that into six consecutive points and a 49-41 lead with 4:13 to play.
Fremd cut it to 52-46 with 2:17 left on a basket by Williams. But the Pirates hit a rebound basket by Balanganayi and got three consecutive steals which turned into a pair of baskets by Connor May, including a dunk, and a basket by Carter Monroe to put the game away.
“It was complete team effort on both sides of the gall,” said May, who finished with 18 points and six rebounds. “When we needed stops, we got stops.”
Darrin May added 10 points for Palatine while Monroe had eight points and Tommy Elter and Kasey May each chipped in six points.
“They could hold Palatine-Fremd on a Sunday afternoon and I think you are going to see the same crowd,” Millstone said. “It is a tribute to the two schools and both programs, it is just fun playing against them.”
“It was a great high school atmosphere for a Monday rescheduled snow game,” said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski. “I thought we came out with a determined effort. I thought we had several chances.”
Before the game. Millstone and Palatine honored Widlowski before the start of the game. Widlowski, who is retiring from coaching and teaching, is a graduate and former player at Palatine.
He was presented a plaque by Millstone. Also in attendance was former Palatine head coach Ed Molitor, who Widlowski played for, former Fremd athletic director David Dick and MSL head of officials Fred Allman.