Schaumburg's Walsh not breathing easy after successful debut
ROCKFORD - Matt Walsh exhaled deeply as the final buzzer sounded in his varsity boys basketball head coaching debut for Schaumburg on Tuesday night.
It wasn't as if there was much doubt about victory No. 1 in a 68-43 romp over Rockford East in the Rockford Boylan Thanksgiving Tournament. The Saxons ripped off 30 points in the first 91/2 minutes and led by as much as 29 points.
But Walsh still grimaced at the fourth-quarter turnovers and demanded better execution at both ends of the floor as if he was in the midst of one of the breathtaking Mid-Suburban West battles on the horizon.
"Relieved," Walsh said with a smile after his team cruised despite committing 29 of the game's 56 turnovers.
"With the new coach and the transition it's certainly something to build off of."
It's not as if Walsh, a former all-area guard and successful sophomore coach at Conant, walked into a major rebuilding project. Walsh took over a program that became one of the most successful in the state under Bob Williams, who is now trying to rejuvenate things at Niles West.
The goal for the Saxons is to extend the tradition of a current MSL-record run of 16 straight winning seasons.
"It will take some time," said senior guard and returning starter Declan Geraghty, who scored all 12 of his points in the first half and had a team-high 8 rebounds. "Everyone is adjusting and finding their roles on the team right now. When we do we'll flow pretty well as a team."
As they did with a steady stream of early points which Geraghty said showed how "we came out excited to play." Junior guard Johnny Kirk scored 10 of his 14 points in the first 61/2 minutes.
Senior Glenn Frost scored 12 of his team-high 15 points in the third quarter. Senior guard Josh Walker had 6 assists and 6-foot-6 Chris Baker and 6-3 Richard Barnes helped the Saxons' 42-27 rebounding edge.
"We had so many positives," Walsh said of the man-to-man defensive intensity which set the early tone.
One of the biggest has been the daily direction from Geraghty after a standout soccer season.
"We're not all used to the same thing so we need someone to step up and take the role of a leader," Geraghty said. "As a team we all need to be leaders. It's a work in progress but as the season goes on it will get better."
Afterward, Walsh was congratulated by Boylan coach Steve Goers, the state's second-winningest all-time boys basketball coach. Walsh thanked him and joked about being only 800-plus wins behind.
"Friday night we know will be a challenge," Walsh said of facing Goers' ninth-ranked Class 4A team.
And that's why Walsh hardly acted as if his first win was a breather.
mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com