Highlanders keep it positive

Driscoll boys basketball coach Nick Latorre described Friday's loss to Marmion as an "out-of-body experience."

There was bickering. There was individual rather than team play. There was defeat.

After a team meeting Saturday in Addison, Driscoll was more like out of its mind.

Led by Jake Lindfors' 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting, Driscoll made 28 of 51 shot attempts on its home court against Montini. The Highlanders' 55 percent shooting earned a 75-59 Suburban Catholic Conference win.

"We just knew we had to come together on the court," said the 6-foot-10 Lindfors, who grabbed 14 rebounds.

Six-seven Matt Kaban scored 20 points, and guard David Schwabe, back from a twisted left ankle that held him out five games, had 9.

"We all like each other outside," Lindfors said, "and when we are negative on the court bad things have been happening and we've been losing games. So we knew that when we're positive and share the ball and play like a team, nobody can stop us."

That theme was repeated by members of Driscoll's seven-time defending state champion football team, who arrived with their medals dangling on their chests.

They chanted, "You can't stop him!" as Lindfors scored 9 first-quarter points -- though Montini defenders Dex Jones, Zach Brash, Jason Viane and Sean Keeley gave it their all while giving up half a foot in height to the big man.

"The game plan was for several different guys to spend time on (Lindfors), not to let him catch the ball, and if he did catch the ball force him to take tough shots," said Montini coach Tom Sloan.

"He made some tough shots but he also got some looks that we were hoping he wouldn't get."

Montini (8-9, 3-5) made its best run after a 16-9 first-quarter deficit.

Both teams combined for nine straight baskets in one giddy stretch, but Jones and brothers Alex and Anthony Blashewski all hit two 3-pointers apiece in a 24-point quarter that drew Montini within 40-34 at halftime.

"We could run with anybody," said Alex Blashewski, who scored 10 points to go along with his brother's team-high 14 and Jones' 13.

Jones made another 3 to open the third quarter, but Lindfors led a 19-5 run to essentially put the game away.

Driscoll (12-6, 5-2) led 70-47 when Latorre pulled his starters with 3:18 left to play.

"I just felt that there was a good team aura," he said. "They played together, and that was important."