Boys Basketball: Vernon Hills’ fast start too much for Loyola

Darren Hoveydai had a good feeling about his team during warmups Thursday. 

The Vernon Hills senior should trust his gut more often.

The Cougars made three three-pointers in the first two minutes and nine for the half in their 60-35 victory over Loyola in the consolation bracket at Wheeling’s Hardwood Classic. 

“I don’t know if we’ve ever shot that well,” said Hoveydai, who went 4-for-6 on threes and scored a team-high 18 points. “It was incredible. We came out firing. We came out and attacked and that opened up the outside.”

The Cougars (7-5) led 17-4 after one quarter and 40-6 at the half. They closed the second quarter on a 20-0 run. 

“When you get outrebounded 18-1 and shoot 0-for-13 from the arc, you’re going to have a bad half,” Loyola coach Tom Livatino said. “We expect more than that.”

The Ramblers (6-6) didn’t quit. In fact, they put a scare into Vernon Hills in the third quarter, getting as close as 19 with 1:57 to go on James Clarke’s two free throws. Loyola trailed 46-27 heading into the fourth.

“The emphasis at the half was on not thinking this game is over,” Hoveydai said. “We did that. We came out sluggish.”

Hoveydai then started the fourth with a three-pointer, and Vernon Hills put the outcome to rest with a 9-0 run. 

Stephen Curry and MJ Crowley both scored 10 points for the Cougars, who finished 11-for-17 on threes. Nathan Rathod was 3-for-4 on threes for nine points.

Loyola was led by Clarke’s 13 points.

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