Boys basketball: Palatine remains atop MSL West with win over Hersey
Palatine went a little old-school Thursday night.
The Pirates, who have been a long-time member of the Mid-Suburban League West, used some of the lessons they learned over the years to knock off Hersey, the new kid in the division, 50-37.
“It was a little bit of a slugfest out there,” Palatine coach Eric Millstone said. “I believe if we had played this game on a Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m., it’s going to be the same intensity because you have tough kids on both sides going at it.”
With the win Palatine (19-3, 6-1) broke part of the three-way logjam at the top of the division with Hersey (18-4, 5-2) and Fremd (18-2, 6-1).
Fremd stayed tied for the division lead with its 59-34 win over Prospect. Palatine plays at Fremd next Friday.
Palatine used the inside physical play of Illinois football commit Tony Balanganayi to pull away in the final six minutes. Balanganayi, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, scored 8 points and had four rebounds in the final quarter.
“I wanted to use my physical ability,” Balanganayi said. “It helps me and it helps the team. Playing on the team for three years, I have had to play some different roles. I know what my role is this year, and we are looking to keep things going.”
Hersey won the first meeting between the teams on Dec. 12 in an epic triple-overtime 61-56 victory at Hersey. But Palatine played with a slower and much more deliberate pace with some added physicality on Thursday night.
Hersey also didn’t help itself as much as it could when it had the ball. The Huskies got open shots but converted just 32.5% from the field.
“I thought we ran our offense well,” Hersey coach Bob Widlowski said. “We got some good looks. But we did not knock them down like we normally have done this season. Every game in the West is going to be a battle. I don’t think the score was as indicative of how close the game was.”
Palatine got hot early. The Pirates scored 10 unanswered points late in the first quarter and into early in the second quarter to take a 16-7 lead on 3-pointer by Darrin Dick to lead 16-7.
Hersey stayed close thanks to Jake Nawrot. The junior, who had football scouts from Alabama and Northwestern on hand to watch his athletic prowess, scored 11 of his 19 points in the first half to help keep the Huskies close.
Hersey finally got leading scorer Charlie Pomis into the fray late in the first half.
Pomis, who drew a lot of attention from Palatine and finished with 13 points, finally shook free. He hit a basket and 3-pointer as the Huskies closed to 23-21 at the half.
Pomis tied the game at 25-25 midway through the third quarter. But Balanganayi scored a couple of baskets inside to ignite an 8-2 run to close out the quarter with the Pirates on top 33-27.
A Pomis 3-pointer and two free throws by Nawrot cut Palatine’s lead to 33-32 with 6:02 to play.
The Pirates continued to stay patient on offense, looking for Balanganayi when they could. Balanganayi didn’t disappoint, hitting a basket and two free throws.
Will Santiago, who fractured his humerus for the second year in a row during football, just returned and was playing in his third basketball game. He got a key basket inside to complete a 6-0 run and Hersey never got closer than 4.
“I have been itching to get back out there,” said Santiago, who finished with 6 points. “Especially when we lost in triple overtime to them. I strive to be a physical guy. I like doing all the dirty work for the team like rebound and setting screens.”
Brady May added 8 points for Palatine, Abram Williams had 6 points and Dick finished with 5 points.
“We have been fortunate enough to say that after a handful of games, we have the difference,” Millstone said. “And that’s kind of what Tony (Balanganayi) has been doing for this groups for the last three years. He is a difference maker.”