Boys Basketball: Lee Conforti gives Barrington a boost

Updated: December 2, 2011 11:18PM

With center John Schneider out for six weeks with a broken finger, reserve Lee Conforti stepped up Friday night and provided Barrington with a much-need lift­ — along with the game-winning free throw with 43 seconds left.

Despite trailing 22-15 at the half, the Broncos rallied with a 19-5 third quarter and narrowly held on for a 43-42 road victory at Mid-Suburban League West rival Palatine.

Conforti bounced off the bench to score 11 points, many in crucial moments. He converted a three-point play late in the second quarter to give the Broncos a spark that carried into the second half.

He then closed out the third quarter by grabbing a loose ball and laying it in to give the Broncos a seven-point advantage heading into the final eight minutes.

The game-clinching free throw, which gave Barrington (3-2, 1-0) a 43-40 lead with less a minute to play, proved enough as Palatine could not convert on its final two possessions.

“We were counting on [Conforti],” Barrington coach Bryan Tucker said. “He did a great job. Absolutely, it was a big spark. He gave us an inside presence; someone to go to. When we got him the ball down there he did something really, really effective and then he was able to match their [physicality].”

“Since John is out, we’re not really big as a team overall, so me and [6-5 forward Mark Bennett] have to split the post play,” Conforti said. “I put in a lot of effort to crash the boards and be tough in the middle.”

Guard Jackson Wegner led Barrington with 12 points. Freshman guard Roosevelt Smart scored a game-high 19 points for Palatine (0-5, 0-1).

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