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What a night for Mundelein's Enright

Aware that he was on the cusp of four-digit career points, Conor Enright was thinking only about beating Libertyville.

Because that's what any Mundelein basketball would be thinking.

Mundelein's junior point guard soared past his milestone point and kept scoring against his team's archrival in leading the Mustangs to a 74-58 win over the host Wildcats on Friday night.

A dozen points shy of 1,000 for his three-year varsity career coming into the North Suburban Conference game, Enright exploded for a career-high 27 points, while adding 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. He shot 10 of 14 from the floor (three 3-pointers) and 4 of 5 from the stripe in what was one of his best offensive performances in a Mustangs jersey.

"Going into the game, I just wanted to win," Enright said. "If I got it [1,000th point], I got it. But it's pretty cool knowing some of the guys that are on that list and being able to be up there with them."

Enright's backcourt mate, Trey Baker, added 16 points (two 3s), as Mundelein improved to 15-2 and 4-1 in the NSC. Libertyville, which never led despite getting within 3 points in the third quarter, fell to 10-6 and 1-3.

Mundelein bolted to an immediate lead and was up 26-10 after one quarter on the strength of 11-of-19 shooting. Libertyville trailed by as many as 18 points in the second quarter before closing the half with a 9-0 run to get within 40-33.

"That first quarter, that wasn't us," Libertyville coach Brian Zyrkowski said. "That second quarter, end of the quarter, that's us - the team that doesn't quit, that fights back. We had a bad start. They had a great start."

Scottie Ebube scored Mundelein's first 6 points but picked up his third foul on the final play of the first half. He was whistled for his fourth early in the third quarter, sat, then fouled out with 6:08 left in the fourth after scoring 8 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.

That only gave Enright the motivation to up his game. The Drake commit notched his milestone point on a free throw 36 seconds into the second half.

"Scottie was in a little bit of foul trouble so I felt like I had to take over a little bit more," Enright said. "I was just trying to get to the basket because sometimes I take too many jump shots and settle."

Enright's former AAU teammate Blake Ellingson had a productive and efficient night offensively for Libertyville. The junior guard led the Wildcats with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting (3 of 4 from the line).

"That's how Blake can play," said Zyrkowski, whose Wildcats played without 6-foot-5 starter Will Moore (sprained ankle). "He was aggressive tonight. He was quick tonight."

"I knew I needed to step up," said Ellingson, who did that often during football as the varsity quarterback. "In previous games I really wasn't doing much offensively. I just had a mind set to treat it like football, almost."

With Ebube on the bench for long stretches, Mundelein got big lifts from starting forward Syam Atade and 6-6 freshman Chris Martin (3 blocked shots).

"Chris Martin played a great game off the bench," Mustangs coach Matt Badgley said. "He just played. We think he's going to be special player."

Mundelein's only starter who's not counted on for offense, Atade hustled for 11 rebounds, scored 5 points, including a three-point play, and had 2 steals.

"He's strong and athletic," Badgley said. "He just needs to be strong and athletic."

Marc Michelotti, who started with Moore out, scored all 12 of his points (three 3-pointers) in the first half for Libertyville.

Jack Bikus added 9 points for Mundelein, knocking down a pair of 3s. Baker's 3-pointer ignited a 10-0 run after the Wildcats closed within 42-39 with 5:46 to go in the third.

"We have a problem letting people back in games sometimes," Badgley said. "But [Libertyville] is good. They hit some tough shots in that second quarter."

  Libertyville's Sam Kallas and Chase Bonder celebrate at halftime after closing the gap on Mundelein in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Scottie Ebube slams one home during the first half against Libertyville in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's fans celebrate their team rallying at the end of the half against Mundelein in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Jack Bikus is blocked on a drive by Libertyville's Patrick Graham and Blake Ellingson in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Scottie Ebube reaches for the basket during the first half against Libertyville in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Trey Baker is unstoppable in the first half as Libertyville tries to stop his drives in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Patrick Graham is blocked by Mundelein's Jack Bikus in varsity basketball at Libertyville on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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