Batavia overwhelms Yorkville by 44 points

In its win over Glenbard South Friday, Batavia ended most of the suspense by scoring the game's first 11 points.

It took six minutes longer Saturday, but the Bulldogs turned in an even more dominating stretch.

The Bulldogs hit Yorkville with an 18-0 run from the end of the first quarter until late in the second en route to another lopsided win, this time 73-29.

Batavia, the Daily Herald's top-ranked team, capped a week of three Western Sun Conference games and three dominating wins by 41, 24 and 44 points.

The combined score? Batavia 221, overmatched opponents 112.

"We have to take care of business and play hard and that's what we've been doing," said senior Nick Fruendt, who led all scorers with 19 points.

Yorkville (2-7, 0-3) was within 10-9 with 2:37 remaining in the first quarter. The Foxes didn't score again for the next 8:30.

Batavia (7-0, 4-0) put on a clinic during that span. The Bulldogs scored transition baskets resulting from Yorkville mistakes, and also got one open look after another in their halfcourt sets with every player making the extra pass.

"It shows we are a deep team and when we move the ball well good things can happen," said sophomore Ricky Clopton, who scored 7 points.

Once again, Batavia's entire team got in on the fun. Twelve players scored, including 6 points from Pete West on consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. David Bryant followed Fruendt with 9 points and Jordan Smith had 8.

"Everyone gets their shot," Clopton said. "Any given night anyone can score. Just proves how big of a threat we are."

Fruendt had a field day intercepting passes and poking the ball away on Batavia's 1-2-2 press. He finished with 6 steals, and Phil Albrecht had 5.

"They tried to sneak guys behind me and I knew they were back there so I just baited them and snatched a couple balls," Fruendt said.

Yorkville was coming off an overtime loss to Kaneland Friday when the Foxes blew a 17-point lead. Jordan Rollins led the Foxes with 13 points.

"Yorkville has had a couple tough losses and their kids have continued to compete," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "I thought our ball movement was good. I thought defensively as the game wore on we got better at getting our hands in the passing lanes."

Batavia returns to action next Friday at Geneva.