The Glenbard South boys’ basketball team (4-4, 1-2) beat Upstate Eight rival West Chicago (1-7, 1-2) last week in a 30 point blowout, but then suffered a lopsided loss of their own to conference foe Fenton (7-1, 3-0), putting them at the .500 mark.
Glenbard West was up 6-4 against West Chicago, and while the Wildcats were trying to tie things up on a fast break, Joey Villa came out of nowhere for a big rejection. The game was tied 8-8 and Masroor Sahi sent a shot back as well, blocking a layup to keep the game knotted up. The Raiders hit a bucket and then on the next West Chicago possession Angjelos Salca stepped in front of a pass for a steal as time was expiring in the quarter. It was 10-8 Glenbard South after one.
In the second quarter, Sahi went on to drill a three and make it a 13-8 game. Sahi hit another three moments later to put them up 20-13. With the score 24-15, Sahi jumped in front of a pass and took it all the way to the hoop for a one-handed slam to put the Raiders up 26-15. On the next Raider possession, PJ Lehr hit a shot from deep to go up 29-15.
After a free throw made it 30-15, Mitchell Erickson punched a ball loose and dished it to Sahi, who scored on a fast break layup to put the Raiders up 32-15 in the third quarter. They extended the lead out to 41-20, and Sahi came away with another steal.
The Raiders cruised the rest of the way and took a 56-26 win. Glenbard South shot 66% and 33% from three. They held West Chicago to 29% and 15% from downtown. The Raiders had advantages in rebounds 24-14 and assists 19-7. They also led 2-1 in blocks, while recording six steals on the night.
The Raiders were led by Sahi’s 18 points. Erickson scored 15 points and Lehr put up 13 points in the win.
“Against West Chicago, we executed really well and for the first time all season did a great job taking away the other team's best options on offense,” said Coach Jason Mead. “Mitch did a great job on their best player.”
It was the other way around in the Dec. 8 matchup with Fenton, with the Bison beating the Raiders 76-30.
It was all Fenton from the start who went up 19-2 in the first quarter. Mitchell Erickson had a block in the quarter for the Raiders. The lead for Fenton extended to 27-2, and while they were threatening to put more on the board, Villa had a sweet rejection on a close shot to send the ball the other way.
However, by the time there was 4:55 left in the third quarter it was a 46-12 game. Erickson had a steal in the quarter for the Raiders, but Fenton’s offense was on full display. With about a minute to go in the quarter, Sahi drilled a three to make it a 61-23 game. With time winding down in the quarter, Erickson swooped in front of another pass for a steal.
Fenton went on to outscore the Raiders 15-7 in the final quarter to take an easy 46 point win.
The Bison were lights out shooting 62% and 60% from three, while making 100% of their foul shots. They held Glenbard South to 6% three point shooting, 34% from the field and the Raiders only made 47% of their free throws. Each team had 20 boards, but Fenton had a 20-7 assist advantage and 13-2 in assists. The Raiders had the game’s only two blocks.
This week the Raiders face Elgin (3-4, 1-2) on Dec. 14 at home with a 7 p.m. tip off against another Upstate Eight rival.
