Potter-Bryant tandem stands the test of time
When Batavia guard David Bryant penetrates, then with eyes seemingly in the back of his head throws a pass to a wide open Ben Potter for a 3-pointer, it's like the two have been playing together for years.
Turns out years, and years, and years.
"We've been best friends since we were 2 or 3," Potter said. "We've been playing together since about kindergarten, first grade."
Potter drained six 3-pointers against both Sycamore and Kaneland last week. Bryant had 10 assists in the first game and 7 in the second, many to Potter.
The Bulldogs then completed a 3-0 week with a 72-56 win over Rock Island, moving to 9-5 overall. Bryant scored 25 points and Potter added 18.
"We know a lot of how each other plays, we know what the other is going to do on the court," Potter said. "When he has the ball he knows where I'm going. It is real easy playing with him, he's a great passer. He's great driving and dishing. It works pretty well."
Both Sycamore and Kaneland played zone against Batavia, which Potter said worked to their advantage.
"I hope I can do it every game," Potter said. "I keep working on my shot, it keeps feeling good. It helps when they are playing a zone, I get a lot more open 3s. If I keep knocking them down I'll keep taking them."
Potter certainly has the confidence from his teammates.
"In practice you should see him, he can shooot it," Batavia junior Ricky Clopton said. "He's an unbelievable shooter. We all have confidence in him. When we kick it out I'm running down the floor because I know he's going to make it. He's probably one of the hardest workers on the team, he's really been pushing hard, making the most of this year."
Just as impressive as Potter's scoring has been his defense and work on the backboards.
"He's done a good job of getting to spots on the floor where guys deliver it," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "He steps in strong with great confidence. Defensively he has done a great job on the ball and a great job on the glass. People talk about the points but the other things he's done have been special."
Ssh, don't tell me the score: St. Charles East senior Zach Scott grew up in Florida.
While Scott certainly was happy scoring 9 points to help the Saints beat Streamwood, he had something else on his mind - watching his Gators play Oklahoma for the national title.
"He doesn't want to know the score because he's taping it," said Clodi, who was rooting for the Sooners.
It turned out to be an extra nice night for Scott after Florida took over in the fourth quarter for a 24-14 win.
A for effort: Clodi has said all year a big reason for his team's 0-11 start was consistency. A little more of it and some of those losses would have turned into wins.
"We've been challenging these guys all year, you've got to do it for 32," Clodi said. "When you do it for 32 you'll win, and that's exactly what we did tonight. I'm so proud of this group for hanging and fighting."
Clodi has been impressed with improved play from 6-foot-5 Tim Russell, who scored a season-high 15 points in Thursday's win over Streamwood.
"Timmy, I'm very forunate to have him on the team," Clodi said. "He's the most coachable kid on the team, listens, always wants the best. He's capable of doing that night in and night out. He's got to hit those shots when he's open, he's 6-5, he played the best game of the year."
Up and down: Kaneland split games last weekend,losing to Batavia and beating Burlington Central, which is about par for the course for the 7-6 Knights.
"It's been a roller coaster ride," leading scorer Dave Dudzinski said. "We play really good some games, really bad some other games. So far this year we have lost to the teams we are supposed to and beat the teams we should."
Finding that consistent second scorer to Dudzinski will be a key in the second half, according to coach Dennis Hansen.
"Our offense has got to get better to compete against the better teams," Hansen said. "Just a matter of understanding what we want to do. When we are shooting 20 percent as a team we shouldn't be shooting that many 3s. Right now we have to change that mindset and it's been hard to do right now."
Looking ahead: Among the highlights in the week to come: Rosary will have its work cut out with home games against Driscoll and Montini, 16-0 and 16-3, respectively.
Batavia plays a key Western Sun makeup game Wednesday at DeKalb. On Friday, St. Charles North will travel to East Aurora and beat the red-hot Tomcats a second time this year.
Saturday marks the annual matchup between East and West Aurora, over 210 meetings and going strong, and an intriguing matchup of Tri-Cities foes Geneva and St. Charles North. The same night, the undefeated Geneva girls team plays St. Charles East.