Meadows runs past Lake Zurich
Rolling Meadows had to battle some early Saturday morning sluggishness when it faced Lake Zurich for fifth place in Palatine's Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic boys basketball tournament.
But the Mustangs awakened with a 25-0 run and finished the tourney with a 3-1 record after a 60-43 victory.
“We played really good team defense and took them out of what they wanted to do,” said Meadows coach Kevin Katovich after his 100th career victory. “The run was mostly off our defense. (Guards Brian Nelms and Eric Lowe) pressured the ball a little bit and we created some turnovers.”
Nelms had a game-high 18 points for the Mustangs, Paul Volkman added 15 and Tyler Gaedele scored 10. The game was moved to a 10:30 a.m. start because Lake Zurich's football team was playing in the Class 7A state championship game in Champaign.
Palatine (1-3) finished in fourth place with a 57-46 loss to Wheaton North. John Millin (11 points) and Peter Bony (9 points) led the Pirates.
Niles North edged Central Suburban North rival Deerfield for the title.
Prospect 78, Senn 60: In St. Patrick tournament play, Senn played a box-and-one defense in an attempt to thwart Knights standout Mike LaTulip, but his teammates took advantage as 11 players scored in a decisive victory, Prospect's first of the season.
Matt Loebbaka and Terry Redding scored 15 points apiece for the Knights (1-2), who led 42-21 at the half and by as many as 30 in the third quarter.
“Mike is an outstanding player,” said Prospect coach John Camardella, “but we have some other outstanding players, and if people try to box-and-one us, we need to able to make them pay for that.”
Loebakka had 11 rebounds and Danny O'Brien had 9. O'Brien and Kevin Sexton both had 3 assists, and LaTulip finished with 12 points.
Morton 68, Hersey 57: Morton outscored the Huskies 26-14 in the second quarter, and although Hersey made a run in the second half and outscored the Mustangs 17-7 in the fourth quarter, it wasn't enough in York tournament play.
Connor Miklasz scored a team-high 21 points and canned four 3-pointers for Hersey (1-3), and Tom Sutrinaitis had 14 points.
“Their transition offense combined with our own difficulties at the offensive end kind of told the tale,” said Hersey coach Steve Messer.
Downers South 62, Schaumburg 58 (ot): Schaumburg finished the 52nd annual Ron Johnson/St. Charles East tournament at 2-2. Guard Javon McDonald made the all-tourney team.