Bartlett knocks off WW South in season opener
It was a close game between the Bartlett Hawks boys basketball team and the Wheaton-Warrenville South Tigers in the opening game of the Thanksgiving tournament at Wheaton Academy Tuesday, but the Hawks came out on top.
The Hawks (1-0) defeated the Tigers 51-44 to begin their season. It was a tight game throughout and the Hawks led by 6 with just seconds to go in the half. Bartlett senior guard Jon Leigeber nailed a 3-point field goal at the buzzer to extend the lead to 9.
Bartlett head coach Jim Wolfsmith was happy to see his team come out hard against a good defense like the Tigers' to maintain their lead.
"It's tough in your first game to play a team that runs a good zone like that," said Wolfsmith. "Wheaton Warrenville South's zone is good right now. They're long and athletic, and they force you to really move the ball around."
Leigeber put up 11 points on the night for the Hawks, including two 3-pointers. Senior guard Matt Chaltin led the team with 13 points and was 5-for-5 on his free-throws. For Wheaton-Warrenville South, sophomore guard Matt Kienzle led the team with 14 points, while junior guard Michael Kramer and junior forward Tim Zyburt each notched 12 points.
Wolfsmith was glad to see his team step up and keep its cool in such a tight ballgame.
"It's good to play a tight game like this," he said. "I want to see control and composure down the stretch, and intelligent defense."
The game remained close in the second half, with Bartlett's lead not exceeding 9 points. A field goal by Tigers' sophomore forward Aidan Hernandez midway through the quarter got Wheaton-Warrenville South within 3 but Bartlett would hang in there, and as Chaltin drew two fouls in the final minute, he made all 4 of his free-throws to seal the victory for the Hawks.
Despite having a good second half, Tigers head coach Robert Szorc knew that the first half is what hurt his team.
"I'm very proud of our kids for being a lot more active in the second half," he said. "On a couple of possessions in the first half, we lost their shooters. I thought we did a better job in the second half, but the first half killed us."
Wolfsmith was pleased with the way his team finished the game.
"That's what you want your leaders to do," said Wolfsmith. "To step up at the end of the game and finish the game for you."
South Elgin 57, Fenton 44: Jake Maestranzi led South Elgin with 17 points as the Storm opened the season with a win at the 26th annual Chuck Mitchell tournament at Fenton.
Luther North 49, Westminster Christian 33: Will Woodhouse led Westminster (1-1) with 12 points in this loss at the Warriors' own tournament.