Strong start propels Conant

Conant knows it will take more than just a good start to get the finish it wants in the Mid-Suburban West boys basketball race.

The Cougars roared out to a 22-point halftime lead on Barrington in the first game of the 12th annual High School Hoops Showdown at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

But they weren't thrilled with their second half of a 53-39 victory that broke a three-game losing streak.

"I don't think we brought the same energy we brought at the beginning of the game and we got a little complacent," said Conant senior Tim Gilhooly, who scored all of his team-high 12 points in the first 16 minutes.

"That's what happened after the York tournament (title)," said Conant senior guard Tony Rizzo. "We got complacent and lost three games in a row."

Conant (11-5, 3-2) scored 12 of the first 14 points and shot 58.3 percent from the field (14-for-24) en route to a 36-14 lead at the break.

"We played really well together and had a lot of energy coming right out," Gilhooly said.

"We came out in the first half, but unfortunately we've seen this way too often," said Conant coach Tom McCormack. "We have to play way more of a complete game than we played."

Mack Darrow scored a game-high 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting and had 9 rebounds for Barrington (3-15, 1-4) but the rest of the team was 6-for-26 from the field.

"We had a great week of preparation for these guys and then we came out without a sense of urgency," said Barrington coach Marty Dello. "To perform like that is beyond me."

Rizzo and Taylor Peterson had 9 points apiece for Conant, which hosts West co-leader Schaumburg next Saturday.

"We know we still have a chance for conference and that's our ultimate goal right now," Rizzo said. "The team that wins is going to sweep the rest of their games and that's what we're trying to do."