Boys Basketball: Jerron Wilbut’s fourth enough as Downers South tops Hinsdale South

Updated: December 2, 2011 10:14PM

Downers South guard Jerron Wilbut had watched Hinsdale South cut a 13-point halftime lead down to four Friday night, but that was not a cause for concern.

“I have confidence in my team, so I knew we were going to get it right back on track,” Wilbut said. “So I was not really worried.”

Wilbut erupted for 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to lead the host Mustangs to a 58-46 victory in a West Suburban Conference Gold Division opener for both teams.

Hinsdale South (1-3, 0-1) had pulled within 37-33 on a jumper by Dijon James with 7:42 left in the fourth quarter, but Wilbut scored the next 11 points for the Mustangs and had 13 overall during a decisive 17-5 run.

The 6-3 senior started the run by making a free throw, rebounding his own miss on the second attempt and converting a three-point play at the 7:10 mark. He later added an inside hoop off a feed from Danny Spinuzzo, another three-point play, two free throws and a driving layup off a steal at midcourt.

After Kevin Honn and Spinuzzo scored baskets, another drive by Wilbut bumped the lead to 54-39 with 2:44 left.

“When I’m going to the basket I’m either looking to score or looking to get fouled,” Wilbut said. “I think the refs really worked it both ways so it was a good game, very physical. Hinsdale South really does a good job making the game physical.”

Wilbut drew the first foul on 6-8 Hinsdale South center Brock Benson, who quickly picked up his second and third fouls and was forced to sit at the 5:37 mark of the first quarter. Benson sat out the rest of the quarter and though he finished with a game-high 21 points, his club could never dig itself out of the early hole.

“It’s hard for our team to adjust,” Hinsdale South coach Vince Doran said. “The kids battled. We had some key possessions we just didn’t finish on. We have tremendous inexperience on the floor with two three-year kids, so it’s just a matter of jelling and we have to keep chipping away and it will happen for us.”

It didn’t happen for the Hornets because they shot 1-for-15 from three-point range and turned the ball over 18 times.

But the Mustangs (4-1, 1-0) were unable to pull away until late because Wilbut didn’t have much scoring help. Honn and Jamall Millison both tallied seven points for Downers South, though Millison was shut out in the second half.

“Tonight our comment as coaches was the end doesn’t justify the means,” Downers South coach Jay Baum said. “We didn’t think we played well. We were not very good on offense. We make just enough mistakes to let other teams stay in the game and we need to get better. I’m not sure we’re any better today than we were a week ago.”

James had 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for the Hornets, while Phil George had seven points on 3 of 11 shooting.

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