Boys basketball: Mobley's 3 at buzzer lifts Hoffman over Schaumburg

Friday night's battle for first place in the Mid-Suburban East between Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates came down to the visiting Hawks’ ability to rally several times in the second half before finally emerging on top 53-50 on senior guard Chris Mobley's three-pointer off a Torey Baskin assist at the horn.

It was the only time Hoffman (7-2, 3-0) led the entire game before a packed Schaumburg gymnasium.

"We started a little sluggish, but we knew we just had to pick it up, play more defense, play more disciplined and stick to what we do (best)," Mobley said after successfully escaping a mob of both teammates as well as classmates in the postgame celebration.

"We're a small team, (so) we've got to play fast to our advantage."

After a layup by Schaumburg senior guard Ray Black put them up 37-22 just a minute into the second half, Hoffman was able to get itself going thanks to steal and layup by Baskin (game-high 21 points). That basket started a 13-3 surge that brought the Hawks back into the contest trailing only 40-35 at the start of the fourth.

A Tony Horton putback with 2:38 left seemed to have the Saxons (6-3, 2-1) in a good spot to hold on, but once again another steal and layup by Baskin after a free throw cut the deficit in half to 50-47 with 96 seconds left.

Then 6-foot-3 junior Cam James drained a trey beyond the arc with 57 seconds remaining to tie it at 50.

After a Schaumburg miss on its subsequent possession, Hoffman Estates got the rebound and then the ball into Baskin's hands while Mobley got himself into position for the game-winning shot.

"We knew that Torey was going to drive and everyone was going to collapse around him," Mobley said.

"So one of us was going to be open and he passed it to me and I knocked it down."

Six-4 sophomore Bryce Smith added 11 points and 7 rebounds while Mobley and James had 9 apiece for the Hawks who will begin the defense of their Maine East tourney crown versus Chicago Jones on Friday.

Black and Horton paced Schaumburg with 15 points each followed by senior center Cam Anderson's 11-point, 10-rebound effort. The Saxons travel to Hinsdale Central for a Friday morning first round game against Burlington Central.