Lisle 57, Wilmington 35

For Lisle's boys basketball team, Christmas couldn't come soon enough.

The Lions took a 2-10 record into the Lemont Tournament, where optimism gained from a decent 2-2 showing hopefully would translate to their first game of the season's second half, Friday at home against Wilmington.

Lisle continued to build confidence with a 57-35 win over the Wildcats in Interstate Eight Conference play.

Sophomore guard Marcus Wilson had career highs of 21 points and 14 rebounds. He added 2 blocked shots and 2 steals.

"We played harder teams (at Lemont) and we got better," said Wilson, who scored 16 points during a second half in which Lisle outscored Wilmington 36-19.

"We're playing better defense, moving the ball better. We play as a team more now," he said.

Lisle (5-12, 3-2) could have deflated after missing its first 9 shots of the game, but Wilmington (7-6, 3-2) missed some easy shots that allowed the Lions to close the first quarter on a 7-2 run.

Lisle led 21-12 on a Wilson basket late in the second quarter before the Wildcats got within 21-16 at halftime.

"We don't come out with a lot of emotion and a lot of energy," said Wilmington coach Brian Koehne.

"We kind of just play ourselves into the game, and you get against a conference team in their gym and they were physical and they were aggressive, and they really took it to us."

Wilson, followed by guard Jay Osika with 11 points for Lisle, gave the Lions a 33-22 lead when he scored after battling for an offensive rebound.

A brief flurry brought Wilmington within 39-29 after three quarters, but Osika and Wilson propelled Lisle to a 51-31 spread with 2:49 left in the game.

"It was our most complete game of the year, on both ends," said coach Mark LaScala, whose Lions made just 8 turnovers and forced 13. After its 0-9 start from the floor, Lisle hit 22 of 41 shots.

"To hold them to 35 and have a season high in points, I think on both ends it was our most complete game."

Andy Crutchfield led Wilmington with 10 points.

Lisle's 6-foot-4 center Mike Gortowski scored 9 points with 12 rebounds. He later indicated the Lions' elevated confidence level by raising his hand high above his head.

"It's up here," he said. "It's way up, it's way up."