Wheaton Academy rolls into regional title game

As Wheaton Academy's boys basketball players gave up the basketball Tuesday night, so they also received in nearly equal measure.

The Warriors have a team goal to have one assist for every two baskets they make in a ballgame. They far exceeded that in their 66-48 win in the opening round of the Class 3A Burlington Central regional.

"We came out and had a really strong first quarter," Wheaton Academy coach Paul Ferguson said. "The key to our first quarter was our unselfishness. We had great balance, inside-out. We hit a couple of 3s. We moved it inside. We just established everything we were looking to do early in the game."

The Warriors (16-8) never trailed in the contest. They opened with an 8-0 run, closed the first quarter with a 10-0 run and led 24-9 heading into the second quarter. Sycamore never got flowing in the contest and never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.

"It's an elimination game, so you don't want to mess around," Wheaton Academy junior Tim Rusthoven said. "We tried to get off and start the game playing hard, which I think we did."

In achieving their unselfishness, the Warriors avoided being too charitable with the ball. Certainly they worked the ball to open players. But they never overpassed and took they open shots as they became available.

"They had really good decision making in when to pass and when to shoot," Ferguson said. "They were very unselfish and I'm pleased with the performance."

Wheaton Academy's big man was its biggest man. Rusthoven, a 6-foot-8 center, scored 16 points, had 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 8 blocked shots before heading to the bench for the fourth quarter with the game well in hand.

"Against their zone in the first quarter, we moved it really well," Rusthoven said. "We hit the open man, then reversed it really well and found the open quarter."

Rusthoven struggled a bit in the second quarter, shooting just 1 of 6. But he hit all 4 shots he took in the third quarter.

"I've been taping my hand all week and then I didn't tape it tonight," Rusthoven said. "I don't know if that had something to do with it. But it seemed like every time (in the second quarter), it'd go off the back of the rim and then straight up and out."

When the Spartans tried to close on Rusthoven, the junior worked the ball around - especially to Anthony Ritchie, who finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds.

"Anthony has been a key guy for us all season," Ferguson said. "If you give Rusthoven too much attention, Anthony will really hurt you."

Four of Wheaton Academy's starters hit double digits. In addition to Rusthoven and Ritchie, Tim Streets scored 12 points by shooting 4 of 4 from 3-point range and Quinn Gorski scored 11 points.

With a sizable margin between the teams throughout the second half, both coaches made liberal use of their bench players. Wheaton Academy's Chris Lesner, who did not play until late in the game, scored 8 points.

Sycamore was led in scoring by Michael Buckner's 14 points. Shane Carnahan added 13 points, but no other Spartans player scored more than 5 points.