Clark leads Libertyville past Lake Zurich
Senior forward Travis Clark scored a team-high 19 points, and Libertyville's boys basketball team celebrated Senior Night with a 70-54 win over Lake Zurich in North Suburban Conference action on Friday.
"Travis Clark had a great night offensively and defensively," Wildcats coach Brian Zyrkowski said.
Libertyville (11-11, 4-6) jumped out to a 21-15 lead after one quarter.
"From there on, we controlled the entire game, holding onto a comfortable lead," Zyrkowski said. "But Lake Zurich hung in there with a great game by J.R. Cison."
Cison's 22 points and Austin LePage's 12 led Lake Zurich (7-19, 2-9).
Libertyville sophomores Blake Ellingson, who started the past three games due to an injury to Brian Wilterdink, scored 16 points. Wilterdink came off the bench and scored 7 points. Patrick Graham (10 points) and Clark controlled the glass. Josh Steinhaus scored 13 points, and Jackson Watson contributed 7 points.
"The past two games our team has been playing with a ton more energy," Zyrkowski said. "All players have expanded their roles and have done a great job taking pressure of Josh Steinhaus, as he has been the main focal point of teams to stop. I love our aggressiveness, attitude and energy. These are the things you can control as a basketball player, and our guys have focused them. We have played better as a result."
Grayslake North 72, Antioch 69: The host Knights won their sixth game in a row, outscoring the Sequoits 19-16 in the fourth quarter, after the score was tied 53-53 after three.
Grayslake North, which celebrated Senior Night, improved to 14-10 and 8-3 in the Northern Lake County Conference.
Antioch (11-9, 3-5) was led by Dan Filippone's 25 points (four 3-pointers) and Gavin Eldridge's 10.
Grayslake Central 54, Wauconda 45: Daniel Guckenberger scored 14 points, Antonio Crews added 13, and the visiting Rams won in Northern Lake County Conference action.
Grayslake Central improved to 10-12 and 5-4 in the NLCC.
Wauconda (11-13, 4-6) was led by Nick Bulgarelli's 12 points. Nick Rinchiuso and Connor Brannick each had 9 points.
Lakes 64, Round Lake 57: Brad Cherry led the visiting Eagles with 22 points in the Northern Lake County Conference game.
It was Cherry's fifth game in a row with 20 or more points. Leighsean Triplett added 15 points and Garrett Klein had 10 for Lakes (6-16, 4-5).
Hakim Williams scored 24 points for Round Lake (9-15, 0-9). Kevonne Peterson had 11.
Waukegan 58, Lake Forest 45: The Bulldogs won to improve to 22-4 and keep pace with Stevenson atop the North Suburban Conference standings.
Waukegan (9-1 NSC) hosts Stevenson (10-1) on Tuesday night.
Crawford Bolton had 16 points for Lake Forest (8-14, 4-6), and Jake Fisher scored 12.
Maine West 60, Vernon Hills 41: The host Cougars fell to 7-18 and 1-8 in the Central Suburban League North Division.