Boys Basketball: Hillcrest duo too much for Crete-Monee

Updated: January 24, 2012 9:37PM

Round 1 goes to the student.

Jayon’e Troutman and Jalen Loving each scored 20 points Tuesday night as No. 21 Hillcrest defeated host Crete-Monee 70-60.

Hillcrest coach Don Houston was an assistant under current Crete-Monee coach Tom Cappel for seven years when the latter was head coach at Hillcrest. Tuesday’s game was their first as opposing coaches.

“It was a good win for the team and a good win for the program, but I feel bad because it was like playing against a father figure,” Houston said. “Most of my success is from what I learned under Tom.”

Jovan Mooring added 16 points for Hillcrest (16-4).

Marius Hopkins led the No. 17 Warriors with 14 points while Marvie Keith and Mark Conner added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Consecutive three-pointers by Loving gave the Hawks a 13-6 lead with 2:34 left in the first quarter. Hillcrest led 19-13 at period’s end.

Hillcrest turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter and forced several Warriors turnovers that led to open looks on the other end. Back-to-back treys by Mooring extended the Hawks’ lead to 27-16 with 6:20 left in the half.

“Our kids are playing hard, and our main thing is to get them to execute on offense. I’m not too worried about them defensively,” Houston said.

Crete-Monee managed to cut the Hawks’ lead to just six points in the half but could not put an extended offensive run together.

“It wasn’t emotional for me as to me it was just another game,” Cappel said. “I wanted to win as it really was no different than any other game.”

Hillcrest led 38-31 at half time, shooting 12-of-31 from the field and forcing 12 Crete-Monee turnovers.

Hillcrest remained comfortably ahead in the second half. Troutman’s ally-oop dunk pushed the Hawks’ lead to 49-35 with 3:50 left in the third.

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