Metering is ON

Boys Basketball: H-F topples Bolingbrooks

Story Image HF's Ricky Bullock shoots the ball over a Bowlingbrook defender in Homewood Friday, January 6, 2012. |Allen Cunningham~For Sun-Times Media
Story Image

Updated: January 7, 2012 12:43AM



Homewood-Flossmoor was eager to get back on the floor after a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Proviso West Holiday Classic. And with first place in the SouthWest Suburban Blue on the line, the Vikings were determined to put Bolingbrook away early Friday night.

A 15-2 first-quarter edge did the trick, though host H-F did have to fend off a late Raiders rally for a 58-49 win in Flossmoor.

“I’d say (the first half) was one of the best halves we’ve played,” H-F’s Delvon Rencher said. “We’ve been losing a lot of close games, but we’ve just got to keep working. A state title is our ultimate goal.”

Rencher, who was battling the flu throughout the week, didn’t start, but led a balanced attack for the Vikings (10-4, 4-0) with 13 points and eight rebounds. Tyrone Sherman added 10 points and Tim Williams nine points and six rebounds.

“Coach (Jim McLaughlin) told me to wait and see how I felt,” Rencher said. “He gave me the green light and I felt fine.”

Each team had 11 attempts from the field in the first quarter. H-F hit seven while Bolingbrook (8-5, 3-1) came up empty.

Down 32-17 at halftime, the Raiders heated up from downtown and got as close as 35-29 with 3:15 left in the third after back-to-back treys from Cam Burnett.

A 10-0 H-F run early in the fourth put it away for good.

The Vikings are the lone unbeaten team in the SWSC Blue and have wins over contenders Bolingbrook and Joliet West.

Nick Malonga (10 points, 7 rebounds), Ben Moore (9 points, 10 rebounds) and Alec Boyd (9 points) led the Raiders.

“We come to a place like this, we’ve got to be ready,” Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said. “We’re a solid team, but we’re not good enough to overcome a 15-2 deficit against a team like H-F.”

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