Seventh time the charm for Cougars

The first six times the Vernon Hills boys basketball team played Lakes, the Cougars always walked off the court disappointed.

There were smiles all around Friday night after the Cougars hit 6 shots from behind the arc and posted a 64-49 victory over the visiting Eagles.

"We were able to get a monkey off our backs," said Vernon Hills coach Matt McCarty.

Four different players hit 3-pointers for Vernon Hills, which improved to 8-6 and 3-1 in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division. Lakes dropped to 5-9, 3-2.

"Man, can they shoot," said Lakes coach Brian Phelan.

Midway through the second quarter, Lakes only trailed 25-22. But the Cougars closed the quarter on a 12-2 run, thanks in large part to a trio of 3-pointers. In addition to falling behind by 13 points, that stretch seemed to deflate the Eagles.

"I was disappointed with the way they had their heads down at halftime," Phelan said.

All nine of Vernon Hills senior Brian Smith's points came on 3-pointers.

"One of our goals today was to get him going, and he responded," McCarty said.

Smith uses an old-fashioned set shot.

"That's the way I've always shot," he said.

"This is my last year of basketball so there was no reason to change it."

Vernon Hills senior guard Riaz Hoveydai racked up a game-high 20 points and 5 steals. Three times he picked Lakes guards and turned the miscues into transition layups.

"I gambled at the right times," Hoveydai said.

When Lakes junior guard John Androus was not handling the ball, Vernon Hills tried to pressure the dribbler at every opportunity. The Cougars' Chris Morgan and DaVaris Daniels did a good job on Androus, although he still finished with a team-high 16 points.

Lakes senior Mike Scott made a trio of 3-pointers and finished with 11 points. Junior forward Marcell KirkmanBey added 10 points.

In addition to Hoveydai's 20 points, Morgan (15 points) and Daniels (12 points) also reached double figures.

In what is becoming a yearly tradition, the Cougars will make another appearance at the United Center. Tipoff against Palatine is noon today.

"The kids really like it," McCarty said.

"When you see the Jordan statute and all the retired jerseys, I don't know how you can't play hard."