Lake Forest 75, Mundelein 66

The explosive Mundelein boys basketball team did not score its first field goal in the second quarter Saturday at Lake Forest until there was 1:16 left in the period.

No wonder Lake Forest led 31-21 at halftime.

"We're a fastbreaking team and we had 21 points at the half," senior Andy Rochon said somewhat incredulously. "We weren't attacking the basket."

Mundelein made the type of run it was capable of in the third quarter, but Lake Forest always had an answer. The Scouts hit eight 3-pointers and were 19 of 21 from the free-throw line in their 75-66 victory.

Lake Forest defeated Mundelein by a similar score (74-64) on Dec. 8. While the Scouts (13-6, 6-3 NSC Lake) had their best performance of the season at the line, the Mustangs (16-6, 5-4) were 9 of 15.

Mundelein made seven 3-pointers but needed 24 attempts.

"I was extremely disappointed with the first half," said Mundelein coach Richard Knar. "Our offense was dysfunctional. Everything was on the perimeter."

In the third quarter, Mundelein closed its deficit to 38-35 on a basket by senior Navjot Singh. But Lake Forest countered with a hoop by Andy Timson, and then E.J. Silver made a 3-pointer.

Mundelein ended the quarter down 52-43 when sophomore Ben Brust swished a buzzer-beater from halfcourt. The Mustangs trailed by at least six points for the rest of the game.

Brust struggled from the field (8 of 22) but still scored 20 points. Singh, who picked up 2 quick fouls, contributed 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Lake Forest senior guard David Holmes had his best game of the season. He came off the bench and scored 18 points, thanks in large part to four 3-pointers.

"Making the first (3-pointer) gives you the confidence to take the second," Holmes said. "I had it going."

Holmes was one of our Lake Forest players to score in double figures. In all, ten players scored at least two points for the Scouts. Lake Forest had success driving into the lane and pitching the ball out for an open 3-pointer.

"We had lots of guys contribute, and we were able to control the tempo of the game" Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala said.

The Mustangs know this is not the right time of the season to go into a funk.

"We have some issues with our confidence," Knar said. "We're not playing like we did at the start of the year."