Hersey finishes off Buffalo Grove

Hersey opened the final quarter with a flurry and closed the door on Buffalo Grove.

The host Huskies trailed by 1 point entering the fourth quarter, but used a 12-2 run in easing to a 62-47 Mid-Suburban East victory in Arlington Heights.

Senior Vuk Vukovic scored a team-high 16 points and senior Sean Reszotko added 12 points in lifting the Huskies to the victory.

“We worked hard and got a lot of second and third efforts,” said coach Steve Messer of the Huskies, who also connected on 11-of-16 free throws in the final quarter. “We also played solid defense, it was just effort.”

Hersey (7-9, 3-2) held BG to 5 fourth-quarter points, and Reszotko stepped up by scoring 8 points in the final quarter, including 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

“We just wanted to keep attacking and get to the rim,” said Reszotko. “In the third quarter they outplayed us, we just wanted to play good defense and control the ball.”

Vukovic scored 9 points in the first half, helping Hersey to a 28-24 halftime advantage, and added 4 points in the final quarter.

“We wanted to play aggressive defense and aggressive offense,” said Vukovic of the pivotal fourth quarter. “I think we definitely found our rhythm, it’s a big win against our rival.”

BG (5-11, 1-4) trailed 34-27 early in the third quarter, but used 10-2 run capped by a basket by Alex Fritz (8 points), to take a 37-36 lead with 4:09 remaining in the quarter.

Junior Luke Potnick (16 points) scored 5 points in the third quarter, with sophomore Andrew Apel adding 2 steals and 6 points to pace the Bison.

“We were able to get to the basket,” said BG coach Ryan O’Connor of the third-quarter surge. “And defensively we were able to get some steals, that got a little momentum going for us.”

Junior Quinn Orlandi, senior Stefan Vucicevic (10 points) and senior Joe Mailloux (10 points) helped Hersey out-rebound BG 40-28 and senior Kevin Kozil (9 points) directed the offense.

Senior Rich Zirngibl (8 points) and senior Sam Wacker (9 points) aided BG.

“This is what they should be doing,” said Messer of the Huskies, who have won 4 of their last 6 games. “We should have been doing it sooner, but we’re doing it and now we need to do it again.”