Maine West gets big hand

How did Maine West senior Adis Kadiric's right hand feel Wednesday night?

"A lot better," Kadiric said after having the hot hand following a game and week of practice off because of injury.

The hand Kadiric and the Warriors received after their boys basketball home opener in Rider Gym in Des Plaines felt pretty good, too.

They scored the final 6 points for a 53-45 nonconference victory over Larkin. It was the first home win for the Warriors (2-7) since they beat Maine South 48-42 on Feb. 22, 2006.

"Everybody doesn't want to repeat what happened last year," said Maine West junior Tommy Solis of a 3-win season that included a forfeit, "and wants to step up and do what it takes."

The 6-foot-7 Solis did with a career-high 15 points, 11 rebounds and 2 layup-preventing blocked shots.

So did Kadiric after missing Friday's loss to Highland Park as the senior came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points. He hit three 3-pointers and all 6 of his free throws as the Warriors were 15-of-19 in snapping a 4-game losing streak.

"I was just anxious to get back in," Kadiric said. "Before the game we talked about needing a good spark off the bench.

"It was a perfect time to come off the bench and give our team a spark and finally get a win. Tonight everything fell together."

Even when little was falling for Maine West senior Jimmy Orlowski, who was held to 5 of his team-high 13-point average by Larkin (0-7) senior Nick Bee.

Orlowski came in with 31 3-pointers but was just 1-for-9 behind the arc and 2-for-11 from the field.

"Nick did a great job on 'D,'" said Larkin coach Larry Hight. "Our two goals were to shut him down and stop their inside game. We couldn't stop their inside game."

Larkin also stopped itself when it would rally to tie or get close. Three of its 25 turnovers led to Orlowski's only 3 and 2 free throws and a 3 by Kadiric to give Maine West a 43-35 lead with 6:31 to play.

Larkin got within 47-45 on Brandon Cooks' 3 with 2:07 left but missed opportunities to go ahead or tie with a turnover and missed 3.

"We've got to learn how to win here," Hight said. "That's one of the things that's happening. We're not closing the deal here."

Maine West did as Solis scored 5 of the final 6 points.

"It was a good test for us because in the past we haven't answered those runs," said Maine West coach Erik McNeill. "Tonight we answered it."