Willowbrook 65, Hinsdale South 56

Every coach, if given a choice, would take a 20-point blowout win over a nail-biter any day.

But deep down, most coaches don't mind a close game now and then because those games have a tendency to reveal the true character of a team.

Willowbrook found itself in one of those character-defining games Friday night at Hinsdale South for a crucial West Suburban Gold tilt, and they passed the test with flying colors, turning away numerous Hornets threats in posting a 65-56 victory.

"I thought we didn't hang our heads," said Willowbrook coach Tim Lavorato. "Every time they made a little run at us, we made a play. You have to go to the next play. That's something we've been working on all year. That's composure. That's maturity. That's a sign we're getting where we want to be."

The Warriors (12-3, 4-1) were where they wanted to be all night. They never trailed, but they could never totally shake the Hornets (9-4, 2-3). Despite leading scorer Milton Colbert picking up 2 fouls less than seven minutes into the game and going scoreless in the first half, the Warriors spread the wealth and led by as many as 9 points. Chris Smith, Jamell Hunter, Kyler Market, Joe Flood and Phillip Reid all scored between 4 and 7 points in the half to stake Willowbrook to a 28-22 advantage at the break.

Hinsdale South stayed in the game thanks to the inside presence of Eric Travis, who had 12 points and 7 rebounds over the first two quarters. Little did anyone know, but thanks to the defensive play of Flood, Colbert and Kevin Pohl, Travis would be shut out in the second half, forcing the Hornets to bomb away from outside in an attempt to stay in the game. They weren't quite up to the task as they finished 6 of 27 from beyond the arc in the game.

"They had three guys on him and they weren't going to allow Eric anything inside, so we were going to have to go inside-outside," said Hinsdale South coach Vince Doran. "We had some good looks, but guys are going to have to step up and hit them."

"That was the key to the game, Eric having 12 points," Lavorato said. "Those two guys, Joe Flood and Kevin Pohl, they did a heck of a job so they couldn't pass the ball to him."

Karl Ploger and Devin Smith hit long-range jumpers for South late in the third to pull the Hornets within 44-40, but the Warriors responded with that composure Lavorato was hoping for and calmly opened the final quarter with a 10-3 run that left the Hornets scrambling in vain over the final four minutes.