Boys Basketball: Downers North roundup

Updated: January 14, 2012 11:10PM

Hinsdale Central 54, Wheaton Warrenville South 41

Alec Hutcherson wasn’t going to led a lead slip away this time for Hinsdale Central.

The Devils scored the first 20 points against Proviso West Friday night and lost. Sometimes the best part of playing Friday night is another game on Saturday.

Hutcherson scored a career-high 19 points and Tom Garvin added 13 as Hinsdale Central defeated Wheaton Warrenville South 51-41 at the Downers Grove North Winter Classic. Danny Roadman scored a game-high 21 points, including four three-pointers, for the Tigers (5-11), but the team’s next leading scorer was sophomore Matt Kienzle with eight.

For WW South, Tim Zyburt scored 18 points Friday night in a win over Glenbard East, but was limited to four points on 1-of-8 shooting against the Devils (9-5).

Hinsdale Central pulled away by outscoring the Tigers 25-16 in the fourth quarter.

Hutcherson, a junior guard, scored eight points in each half.

“I was seeing the rim well. Actually, I had good arcs on my shots. They were playing zone,” Hutcherson said. “There was motivation after our loss too. We were up 10-0 in the first quarter (against Proviso West), but the pressure got to us.”

WW South went nearly 12 minutes midway through the game without a basket, but trailed only 26-25 going into the final quarter by outscoring the Devils 14-8 in the third. Roadman scored all of the Tigers’ eight points in the first quarter on three baskets, but WW South shot 0-for-7 from the floor in the second quarter.

“One of our biggest scorers (Zyburt) got into foul trouble in the first minute and a half,” Tigers coach Robert Szorc said. “That was a good team we played out there. Down the stretch, they were disciplined and hurt us with big shots.”

Downers South 66, Glenbard North 60

At halftime Saturday, Jerron Wilbut nearly had as many points as his entire game Friday night.

The Downers Grove South senior guard scored a career-high 33 points, including five three-pointers, against a familiar foe. The No. 19 Mustangs beat Glenbard North for the second consecutive year at the Downers Grove North Winter Classic, winning 66-60 despite giving up a 16-point lead in the second quarter.

Wilbut scored 21 points in the first half for the Mustangs (13-2), who face No. 2 and undefeated Proviso East Jan. 19 for first place in the West Suburban Gold. The Mustangs beat Glenbard North (8-6) last season, 78-63, and also won in the playoffs.

Josh Fleming scored 11 of his team-high 21 points in the third quarter to rally the Panthers. Sterling Hightower’s only basket, a three-pointer, pulled Glenbard North to within 48-47 with 52 seconds left in the third quarter and then Troy Jackson’s layup gave the Panthers a one-point lead.

“I always like playing Glenbard North,” Wilbut said. “I’m friends with Josh. He’s my AAU buddy (on the Illinois Wolves). It’s always a challenge.”

Glenbard North outscored Downers South 20-9 in the third quarter, but the Mustangs allowed only nine points in the fourth quarter.

Wilbut cooled off in the second half, but ended the game with a pair of free throws with 9.6 seconds remaining. The Mustangs led 62-60 when Wilbut scored on a layup with 54 seconds remaining. One of the biggest plays in the game was 6-foot-6 Greg Garro’s block on 6-8 Ryan Krueger with 25 seconds left to preserve a four-point lead for Downers South.

“His stats do not get reflected in the scorebook, but he’s just amazing,” Mustangs coach Jay Baum said of Garro (six points, seven rebounds).

Jamall Millison scored eight of his 13 points in the first half for the Mustangs.

Chavares Flanigan had 12 points for Glenbard North while Krueger finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He did not score in the second half while missing his five shot attempts.

Wilbut scored 23 points in a 67-57 win over Leyden Friday night. He connected on 4-of-7 three-pointers in the first half Saturday.

“We’re a team that likes to finish,” Glenbard North coach Joe Larson said. “They made a lot of shots in the first half, a couple of them from the outside.”

Four of the Mustangs’ first seven shots in the game were three-pointers to take a 19-9 lead. The Mustangs led 30-14 midway through the second quarter on Wilbut’s third three-pointer in the game.

Wheaton North 47, Downers North 42

Sam Otto’s big first half was enough to preserve a victory for Wheaton North in the Downers North Winter Classic.

Otto scored 11 points in the second quarter, totaled 17 points in the first half and finished with 23 points in the game to lead Wheaton North to a 47-42 victory Saturday.

Jaylen Howze added nine points for the Falcons (5-11). Downers North (3-13) led 35-33 entering the final quarter, but could not close out the win. The Trojans were led by David Gladney’s 16 points and Rob Mahlke’s 15 points.

Hinsdale South 71, Glenbard East 57

Brock Benson has had plenty of big games before, but perhaps none others like this one. He was nearly perfect.

The 6-foot-8 senior from Hinsdale South scored a career-high 26 points on 12-of-13 shooting and could have had more, shooting 2-of-8 from the free-throw line. Benson also had 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets to a 71-57 victory Saturday over Glenbard East at the Downers Grove North Winter Classic.

Benson scored 11 points in the first half. Eleven of his baskets came on layups and his other field goal was a dunk off an assist by Jerry Stoltz with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter. That dunk, a two-handed hanger while coming off the baseline, tied the game at 8.

“I’m happy with my performance tonight,” said Benson, who scored 24 points against Eisenhower Dec. 28 in the Hinsdale South Holiday tournament. “My teammates got me the ball.”

Benson played the last four minutes with four fouls and dominated inside for the Hornets (9-7), who were coming off a 40-38 loss to Leyden Jan. 10. Benson’s only missed shot came after his lone basket in the second quarter, a rebound and layup with 3:58 before halftime.

“Brock Benson did a great job,” Hornets coach Vince Doran said. “I don’t know what it is, but he had to have a high percentage (shooting). He gets great looks and he finishes. He’s such a presence. We need him on the floor. He played smart tonight.”

With Benson dominating inside, senior guard Phil George heated up from the outside after making only one three-pointer in the first quarter. George had 23 points, including three three-pointers, and fellow guard Jerry Stoltz had 10 points, all in the first half.

Glenbard East (8-7) was led by Dante Bailey’s 18 points and eight rebounds. Bailey was the only regular to start Saturday after the Rams lost 50-44 to Wheaton Warrenville South Friday night. Rams coach Scott Miller started four other players who are normally reserves.

“We’re shaking things up and taking a look at the juniors,” Miller said. “We feel strongly about those guys.”

Yashua Trent added 11 points for Glenbard East.

The Rams couldn’t find a way to stop Benson or George. George had 11 points in the third quarter and shot 8-of-14 from the floor for the game.

“They got three good shooters and scorer type of guys,” Miller said. “Those guys did all the damage.”

Hinsdale South outscored the Rams 13-5 in the second quarter and led 33-26 at halftime.

“When Phil has got it going and Brock is in the inside, they are difficult to defend,” Doran said.

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