Rideout plays big for VH
Listed at 6 feet 4, shot-swatting Kenny Rideout seems to play taller than that.
That's because he is, he says.
"It's funny," Rideout said. "I laugh every time I see my name in the paper and it says 6-4. I'm really like 6-5½.
"Last year I was just as tall and they listed me at 6-3."
What's important for Vernon Hills is that its 6-5½ center plays big in the post, and Rideout certainly did Saturday morning in final-round action of the 30th Annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic.
His game bests of 14 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks helped lead the Cougars to a 41-28 win over Carmel.
Exactly one week earlier, Vernon Hills edged Carmel 39-37 at the United Center.
"At halftime I told the kids, 'Nobody's going to fool anybody this game,' " said a smiling coach Matt McCarty, whose Cougars improved to 7-6 by winning their second straight at Wheeling after dropping their first two.
"We tried to call a play and (Carmel) was calling out exactly what was going on."
The Corsairs (3-13, 1-3) couldn't figure out the Cougars in the second half, however.
Vernon Hills outscored Carmel 15-0 to extend a 15-14 halftime edge. While Rideout took over down low on the offensive end, scoring 8 points (2 free throws), the Cougars' defense helped limit the Corsairs to 0-of-11 shooting. Vernon Hills also claimed a 12-5 rebounding edge.
"We had some good looks that didn't fall," Carmel coach Jon Baffico said. "I know Vernon Hills can empathize a little bit because they got shut out (5-0 by Deerfield in the first quarter) on Thursday. I think we're two pretty similar teams. They just played better defensively. We did not shoot the ball very well, and that's attributed to their defense."
Vernon Hills got a big third quarter out of Chris Weaver, who scored all 4 of his points and had all 3 of his steals during the eight minutes. He finished with 6 rebounds, too.
"Defense is what we do," Weaver said. "We're trying to bear down on defense and play some hard 'D.' We've played tough teams. We just got to play hard defense and then the rest will come."
The Cougars also got good production from Jeff Epner, whose season-high 9 points included two 3-pointers and a pull-up jumper and free throw in the fourth quarter to help keep the lead double digits.
"We had some guys step up that have probably been in the back a little bit," McCarty said. " 'Weav' and 'Eps' really did some nice things for us in the second half."
No player affected the game more than Rideout, who frustrated 6-6 Jack Baucus into a rough game shooting and altered several other Carmel shots.
"His wingspan's just really unbelievable," McCarty said. "I've always been a coach that wants post guys to battle and get in front, but Kenny is a kid that can play on the side and play behind because he has such good timing."
Baucus, who was running gingerly due to what Baffico said was general aches and pains and tendinitis in his knees, finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds. David Venegoni also had 8 points.
"(Baucus) is not that much taller than me, but he's got me in weight and strength," Rideout said. "(Weaver) did a great job of doubling down on him. We limited his touches, basically."