Zion-Benton rally sinks Normal

Zion-Benton’s Rodney Clinkscales handles the ball during the first half.
(Scott Powers/ For the Sun-Times)

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Lenzelle Smith wasn't happy with his first three quarters Monday afternoon, so he made up for it in the fourth.

Rallying back from a seven-point deficit, No. 10 Zion-Benton got 10 points, two offensive rebounds and two assists from Smith in the final quarter as the Zee-Bees escaped with a 50-47 win over Normal Community in the King Classic at Hononegah High School in Rockton.

"My first three quarters I felt like I wasn't pushing myself enough," said Smith, a 6-foot-3 sophomore. "I felt I had to pick up my momentum."

With Zion-Benton down 36-29 with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter, Smith began his heroics.

He hit a 15-footer to start it. He followed with a low-post move for a bucket. He set up a Quintrell Love layup with an assist. Two free-throw swishes by Smith at 4:13 cut Normal's lead to 39-37. He then tied the game with a layup.

Smith gave the Zee-Bees a 43-41 lead with two more free-throw makes and put them farther ahead on the next possession when a quick dish to Markus Yarbrough led to a three-point play.

"Lenzelle had been quiet up to that," Zion-Benton coach Don Kloth said. "He played well in the fourth quarter."

Smith finished with a game-high 16 points.

Kloth's defense also emerged in the final minutes. Using a trapping press, the Zee-Bees (19-2) forced Normal into five fourth-quarter turnovers. Normal had 13 turnovers for the game.

Taking care of the ball was especially an issue for Zion-Benton in the second quarter. The Zee-Bees turned it over nine out of 14 possessions in the quarter and were out-scored 10-4.

"You got to give Normal credit," Kloth said. "We've played them the last few years and it's always close."

Rodney Clinkscales (8 points, 2 steals) and Yarbrough (11 points) contributed for Zion-Benton.