Lisle learns from loss, gets win
The Lisle boys basketball team had learned a valuable lesson in playing Herscher last week and wasn't going to make the same mistake when the Tigers came to Lisle on Friday night.
Early in the second quarter, the Lions looked like they could hit the gas and speed away from Herscher. But in the second half the Tigers found their stride and led briefly in the fourth quarter. Lisle regained control and prevailed 45-39.
"We played them last week at the I-8 (Interstate Eight Conference) tournament. We had a lead of 17 or 15 at halftime and lost (68-62)," said Lions senior Ryan Gillen, who finished with 10 points. "They are a good team. They're good shooters and tonight we knew we had to keep playing strong and moving the ball around. We were going to take the win whether it was by 20 or 1."
The Lions (13-12, 6-2) led 36-31 going into the final quarter. The Tigers (11-11, 3-4) started the quarter going on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 36.
Gillen responded immediately to put Lisle back in the lead 38-36. However, Herscher made three of its next four free throws to lead 39-38.
Just more than 30 seconds later, Lisle's Nick Massura found Derrick Redmond under the basket and Redmond converted a layup to give the Lions a 40-39 advantage. It turned out to be the winning bucket.
Trevor Stitt added a basket and the Lions made three free throws in the remaining time to keep the Tigers at bay.
"We had trouble closing out games recently and had been working on that in practice," said Lisle coach Mark LaScala. "We did a good job of being strong at the end. We were spreading it out and making it to the free-throw line and we weren't allowing turnovers for easy baskets. I thought our defense the last minute and a half was very strong."
Junior forward Mark McGrath led Lisle with a team-high 18 points that included three 3-point baskets. Lisle led 12-6 after the opening period with McGrath scoring 8 of his points then.
Adalberto Gutierrez finished the evening with 8 points.
His layup with 2:45 until halftime gave the Lions their second 11-point lead of the game, their biggest advantage of the night. Herscher finished out the second quarter on a 6-3 ruin to trail just 28-20 at halftime.
Lisle returns to conference action Tuesday at Manteno. After that just two regular-season contests remain before regional play.
"I like my guys. They're working hard. Even though we are around the .500 mark, just about every contest was a strong effort. I like our chances," LaScala said.