Boys Basketball: Sandburg buries Brother Rice

Updated: December 13, 2011 9:30PM

Sandburg coach Todd Allen distinctly remembered the pounding his team absorbed from Brother Rice last season.

“They ran us out of the gym,” Allen said of the Crusaders’ 78-42 victory over the Eagles. “They absolutely ran us off the floor.”

On Tuesday night, Sandburg gained sweet revenge.

Joe Kuligoski scored a game-high 17 points and Malek Harris added 10 as Sandburg posted a 56-33 victory over Brother Rice in Orland Park.

The victory was even more impressive considering the Eagles (3-4) played without leading scorer Nick Lehnerer (13 points per game), who was out for undisclosed reasons.

“Last year we lost by 36,” Kuligoski recalled. “We didn’t have Nick last year either. That was one of the losses that hurt us the most. We came into this game motivated.”

Brother Rice (6-2) actually grabbed a quick 4-0 lead.

Sandburg responded with a 9-0 run and ended the first quarter with a 16-9 lead. Ken Payonk scored seven of his nine points in the first quarter.

By the time the Eagles capped a 12-0 run midway through the second frame, their lead had swelled to 25-9.

Ray Rubio finally snapped Rice’s drought with a three-pointer, but the damage was done.

The Crusaders struggled badly from the field, finishing 10-of-41.

“Rice does a great job running motion offense,” Allen said. “We told the guys they would have to get through three or four screens each possession. We really did a nice job defensively.”

Brian Dace added nine points for the Eagles.

Rice was led by Alex Majewski’s nine points.

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