Maine W. keeps Larkin winless

How did Maine West senior Adis Kadiric's right hand feel Wednesday night?

"A lot better," Kadiric said after having the hot hand following a game and week of practice off because of injury.

The hand Kadiric and the Warriors received after their boys basketball home opener in Rider Gym in Des Plaines felt pretty good, too.

They scored the final 6 points for a 53-45 nonconference victory over Larkin. It was the first home win for the Warriors (2-7) since they beat Maine South 48-42 on Feb. 22, 2006.

"Everybody doesn't want to repeat what happened last year," said Maine West junior Tommy Solis of a 3-win season that included a forfeit, "and wants to step up and do what it takes."

The 6-foot-7 Solis did with a career-high 15 points, 11 rebounds and 2 layup-preventing blocked shots.

So did Kadiric after missing Friday's loss to Highland Park as the senior came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points. He hit three 3-pointers and all 6 of his free throws as the Warriors were 15-of-19 in snapping a 4-game losing streak.

"I was just anxious to get back in," Kadiric said. "Before the game we talked about needing a good spark off the bench.

"It was a perfect time to come off the bench and give our team a spark and finally get a win. Tonight everything fell together."

Even when little was falling for Maine West senior Jimmy Orlowski, who was held to 5 of his team-high 13-point average by Larkin (0-7) senior Nick Bee.

Orlowski came in with 31 3-pointers but was just 1-for-9 behind the arc and 2-for-11 from the field.

"Nick did a great job on 'D,'" said Larkin coach Larry Hight. "Our two goals were to shut him down and stop their inside game. We couldn't stop their inside game."

Larkin also stopped itself when it would rally to tie or get close. Three of its 25 turnovers led to Orlowski's only 3 and 2 free throws and a 3 by Kadiric to give Maine West a 43-35 lead with 6:31 to play.

Larkin got within 47-45 on Brandon Cooks' 3 with 2:07 left but missed opportunities to go ahead or tie with a turnover and missed 3.

"We've got to learn how to win here," Hight said. "That's one of the things that's happening. We're not closing the deal here."

Maine West did as Solis scored 5 of the final 6 points.

"It was a good test for us because in the past we haven't answered those runs," said Maine West coach Erik McNeill. "Tonight we answered it."

Wheeling 60, St. Charles North 44: Wheeling had a lot going for it Wednesday night as it hosted St. Charles North.

For starters -- literally -- all of the Wildcats starters put 10 or more points on the board.

Defensively, the Wildcats took the North Stars out of their game with blocked shots, rebounds and forced turnovers in a 60-44 boys basketball win for Wheeling.

"One of the things we really made priority No. 1 is defense after our first game," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool. "We've done a real nice job of defense and rebounding."

Alex Chery blocked about 6 shots for the Wildcats to help stifle the North Stars.

"That's what I train to do -- get steals and blocked shots," said Chery. "We played definitely well. Our defense was incredible. We held them to 44 points -- that's pretty good."

Chery also scored 10 points.

"He's a tremendous shot blocker," Wool said of Chery. "He is such a presence inside that it really alters what other teams are trying to do to us."

Chris McClellan led Wheeling's offense with 13, including three 3-pointers. Michael Barten added 11 with 7 in the first quarter where the hosts went up 17-8 and never looked back.

"We had really well balanced scoring," Wool said. "We're really dangerous when everybody is involved."

Michael Zimmer and James Kurtz added 10 apiece for the Wildcats while Sayer Johnson pitcher in 6 off the bench.

"I'm really happy -- I wanted to fight back to .500 and we did," said Wool, whose team is 4-4. "Right now we're playing our best basketball and we're improving. I feel good about that."

"We played well," added Chery. "Hopefully, we'll be ready for Friday night's (conference game against) Rolling Meadows."

The North Stars (2-5) fought hard throughout and pulled together an 8-0 run the second quarter to cut the deficit to 28-20 at the half.

"The kids didn't quit," said North Stars coach Tom Poulin. "They kept battling. They got down big early and got back to 8 at half. We got better tonight --mentally and physically. We'll keep plugging away and be (more) competitive when its all said and done."

Tim Janeway led St. Charles North with 11. Zach Hirsch (9), Jonathan DeMoss (8) and Danny Jimenez (6) also played solid games.

But the Wheeling defense kept too much from happening.

"It was a physical ball game, it was tough," Poulin said. "In the lane, it was not for kids. (Wheeling was) allowed to do some things inside. We were forced to play their style of game -- which usually leads to a loss."

The North Stars' other downfall came at the free-throw line, where they managed just 1-of-10 shots.

"We've been up and down," Poulin said of his team's free-throw shooting. "That doesn't help you out. It makes the game a little easier when you knock those down."

-- Bill Swick