Fremd passes last MSL West test
Fremd’s 49-34 win over host Conant on Friday was a passing fancy.
The Vikings, who finished in third place in the Mid-Suburban West, played one of their better games passing the ball to the open man.
Fremd came up with 16 assists on its 19 baskets, which did not surprise but did encourage coach Bob Widlowski.
“This was one of our better games passing this season,” Widlowski said. “We just need to keep doing that next Tuesday (in an MSL crossover) and the next week in the state playoffs.”
Senior Sean Benka took on the leadership role by scoring 13 points and dishing out 4 assists. Junior Riley Glassman also chipped in 13 points while sophomore Xavier Williams tossed in 7.
“Benka has been steady for us all year,” Widlowski said. “He played well for us on both ends of the floor. As a team we shot well, moved the ball to the right people and executed.”
Benka put the Vikings (17-8, 6-4) ahead for good at 6-4 with 3:57 left in the first quarter. Fremd led 10-6 after one quarter.
Conant’s Robert Hudson, who scored all 9 of his points in the second quarter, helped keep the Cougars (14-12, 5-5) close in the second quarter and they trailed 27-20 at the break.
Fremd outscored Conant 9-2 in the third quarter, building a 36-22 lead after three quarters and Conant could not recover.
“They took it to us from the get-go,” said Conant coach Tom McCormack. “We made a couple of little runs but they fought through it. They pressured us and that had an effect on us. We just didn’t respond.”
Fremd’s defense was effective in forcing 15 turnovers and limiting Conant to 10-of-39 shooting from the field.
“It was a nice bounce-back game for us,” Benka said. “I felt confident with my shot tonight and coach usually lets me take my shots. When we lost to them last time their defense played well. Tonight we had to get on top of them with our defense. After we lost to Schaumburg last week, we knew we had to come back and play well.”
Conant point guard Joey Ranallo played his first game in five weeks after recovering from a shoulder injury. He scored the Cougars’ only basket in the third quarter.