Schaumburg rolls past Hoffman

Schaumburg did not want to add any extra life to the surprise party Hoffman Estates threw for retiring boys basketball coach Bill Wandro on Friday night.

So, in the latest chapter of what has been one of the area's best rivalries, the visiting Saxons kept a Hoffman victory from being part of a celebration which included nearly 50 players and coaches from Wandro's 20-year tenure.

And Schaumburg (4-5, 2-1) came out with a lively start as it scored the first 11 points en route to a 54-30 Mid-Suburban West victory.

“Finally, it's nice,” senior Javon McDonald said of Schaumburg's first game that didn't go down to the wire. “We've been trying to get one of those and give the other guys a chance to play. They work so hard in practice to make us better.”

McDonald had 13 points and hit three 3-pointers and Christian Spandiary added 9 points as Schaumburg led 43-13 after three quarters.

McDonald also shut out Hoffman (1-7, 0-3) scoring leader Austin Terry (6 points) until he connected on a drive with 2:13 left in the third quarter.

“I was most pleased with how we functioned as a unit defensively,” Schaumburg coach Matt Walsh said after Hoffman missed 23 of its first 26 shots and committed 23 of its 24 turnovers through three quarters.

“I thought it was our best team defense overall,” said McDonald, who has embraced his role as a defensive stopper. “I know all the players and all their tendencies and what to expect. But I can trust the help (defense) from my teammates and get into guys and pressure them.”

Hoffman is missing its most experienced returnee in senior guard Matt Pahl with a torn tendon in his right foot. Wandro said Pahl probably won't return until February and that hurts an offense averaging just 37 points a game.

“We had an awful start and with our team, the way we're scoring right now, that's a pretty tough lead,” Wandro said. “I don't think we gave up at any time tonight but we became frustrated.”

But the surprise event for Wandro, which was organized by his wife Kathy, was a big success. Wandro led Hoffman to Class AA Elite Eight appearances and MSL titles in 1996 and 2004 and has a 332-213 record with eight regional titles.

“I've been coming to this gym as a player and a coach for the last 20 years,” said Walsh, who was an all-area guard and an assistant coach at Conant, “and I have the highest respect for him as a coach and a person.”

And seeing so many familiar faces sitting right behind the Hoffman bench and getting together for postgame pictures put a smile on Wandro's face

“I knew something was up but I didn't know it was this big,” Wandro said. “I appreciated it and it isn't even just me. It's a great opportunity for them to get together.”