Boys Basketball: Balanced Downers South rips Downers North

Updated: February 4, 2012 11:42PM

In the first half of the season, Downers South would rely on one or two people to make the big plays.

On Saturday, all five players on the court took turns making key contributions and as a result the host Mustangs cruised to a 66-35 victory over crosstown rival Downers Grove North.

Kevin Honn led a balanced attack for Downers South (18-4), scoring 15 points to go with seven rebounds. Jamall Millison had 14 points, four rebounds and four steals, Danny Spinuzza and Greg Garro both tallied nine points and Jordan Cannon added eight.

All of Cannon’s eight points — and six of Millison’s — came during an 18-0 run bridging the second and third quarters after Downers North (4-16) had pulled within 24-20 on a three-point play by Rob Mahlke with 3:30 left in the first half.

“[The key was] pretty much for every man to play defense and keep their man in front of them,” Millison said. “If we got beat everyone rotated and our defense is what led to all our offense.”

After Mahlke’s basket, the Mustangs allowed just two buckets the rest of the way. Millison started the big run with two free throws and then Cannon swished a pair of three-pointers, the last with :03 left, to give Downers South a 32-20 halftime lead.

The Mustangs stretched that to 42-20 before Dennis Blake hit a three to break the drought for the Trojans at the 2:58 mark of the third quarter. But Downers South continued its rampage, going on a 10-3 spurt which Spinuzza capped with the play of the game. The sophomore point guard stole an inbounds pass and sank an off-balance three-pointer from the right corner just before the third-quarter buzzer to make it 52-27.

“Our defense was outstanding,” Downers South coach Jay Baum said. “We challenged them at halftime to really make a stand in the third quarter to extend the lead and we did. Every single person contributed.”

The Mustangs played their fifth straight game without leading scorer Jerron Wilbut, who is currently suspended. Downers South has won all five games and seems to be getting used to playing without him.

“Everyone is stepping up since we don’t have him to score a lot of the points,” Millison said. “That’s just giving people confidence so when we get to the playoffs, when we do need to go deeper in the bench they’ll be ready.”

The Mustangs dressed only 10 players but nine had at least one steal, with Cannon, Honn and reserves Scottie McNellis and Kevin James all getting two.

“With Jerron we can score a lot but without him we still have plenty of guys who can score,” Honn noted. “We’re just playing good as a team, starting on the defensive end. It all starts with the defense.”

Mahlke finished with 15 points, including two three-pointers, to lead the Trojans, who have lost eight straight and 12 of their last 13. Nick Norton added eight points and Blake had seven.

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