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Boys Basketball: Libertyville overpowers Zion-Benton, continues win streak
Libertyville High School varsity basketball player, Griffin Pils (11), dribbles the ball down the court during a game against Zion-Benton, at Libertyville High School, on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media
Updated: December 6, 2011 9:22PM
Griffin Pils scored 19 points and Anthony Mack added a dozen, but Libertyville players pointed to little-used Daniel Ryan as making the key play in Tuesday’s 47-33 win over visiting Zion-Benton.
Ryan was inserted into the game with two seconds in the first half, Libertyville leading 23-20 and Zion taking the ball out near midcourt.
Ryan stole the inbounds pass and put it in at the buzzer for a momentum-changing hoop.
“I try to make the most of my time out there,” said Ryan, a senior guard. “We were looking to foul because we had a foul to give.
“The coaches told me to go for the ball and see what happens. Zion threw the ball away, I took it, and was just trying to beat the clock at that point.”
Up 25-20 at the half, the third quarter was all Libertyville, which outscored Z-B 18-5 in the period to break the game open at 43-25. Pills had 10 points in the period.
Zion star Milik Yarbrough sat out the final quarter-plus and finished with six points on 2-of-9 shooting.
“I thought we played well in spurts,” said Libertyville coach Scott Bogumil, whose team is now 6-0. “I thought the play just before halftime was really big.
“The momentum really carried us. We saw them hanging their heads walking off the court (at halftime). That was a really big play momentum-wise.
“In the second half, defensively, we were able to clamp down on them.”
Pills had 13 of his points after the break.
“It’s a big win for us,” said Pils. “In past years, we haven’t started very well. This year, we’ve had a great star and we’re playing well together.
“We still haven’t played our best. We know if we play like we’re capable of, we have a chance to compete with Warren.”
Libertyville will return to action on Saturday, at home, against Lake Zurich.
That same night, Zion-Benton (3-4) will play at Lake Forest. The Zee-Bees haven’t had a home game yet this season.
Niko Paaloalo led Z-B with eight points and 12 rebounds. Yarbrough and Curtis Cook each had six. Zion was 6-of-16 from the free-throw line.
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