Stack, Barrington shoot down Libertyville
While many close basketball games come down to the final few minutes of the fourth quarter, the first quarter helps decide the game's tone.
Barrington senior guard James Stack (16 points, 4 rebounds) hit two 3-pointers from the corners in the first quarter, forcing Libertyville to shift from its 2-3 zone to counter the outside threat.
"Beating Schaumburg (Friday) night was a big momentum game for us," said Stack. " It carried over to today."
The Broncos forced the Wildcats to play catch up most of Saturday afternoons 58-55 nonconference boys win at Barrington.
"When Stack knocked down a couple of those 3-pointers for us," said Barrington coach Bryan Tucker, " it got us going. Even after they changed their defense he still did the little things on the court that people don't notice. Things like playing good defense and getting the others involved."
The Broncos (14-12) led 21-13 with 5:42 left in the first half before the Wildcats (12-13) pulled even at 23 on Griffin Pils' 3-point play.
But a 9-0 run, including another trey by Stack and two baskets from Greg Gerrard (12 points) put the Broncos up 32-23 at the break.
Two free throws by Stack with five seconds left in the third quarter kept Barrington ahead 47-38.
Owen Prunskis' only basket for Barrington to start the fourth quarter gave the Broncos a 49-38 lead before the Wildcats went on a 11-0 run over the next 4:20 to tie the score at 49-49. Hobie Herberger (12 pts) started the run with a basket and a 3-point play.
Barrington, which had 7 of its 18 turnovers in the fourth quarter, went ahead for good on Ben Bartz' 3-point play on a assist from Mark Bennett at 52-49 with 3:00 left.
Bartz finished with 11 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Libertyville stayed close after Ryan Barth's basket with 2:06 left to trail 54-53.
The Broncos worked the clock and received a layup from Bartz on a feed from Gerrard to give Barrinton a 56-53 lead with :20 left. Stack followed with 2 free throws with 16 left for a 58-53 lead.
"When we got the second big lead," said Stack, "we kind of got back on our heels. But we hung in there."
"That 3-point play Barrington got really hurt," said Libertyville coach Scott Bogumil. "We just couldn't convert on their turnovers as much as we could have in the fourth quarter. We threw the ball away a couple of times and missed some shots. We gutted it out, though."
Luke Mathewson led Libertyville with 15 points and Billy Meyer added 12.