Montini stops three-game slide

Earning what Montini boys basketball coach Brian Opoka called “a necessary win,” his Broncos denied a Fenton team that really could use one.

Montini’s 34-30 victory in the third and last day of pool play at Glenbard West’s 12th annual Holiday Classic kept the Bison winless despite contending late in the game.

Fenton senior forward Brad Leffew scored off an offensive rebound to bring Fenton within 32-30 with 47 seconds left to play.

Montini (4-6) committed a turnover 15 seconds later and Fenton (0-11) had a shot inside that wouldn’t fall. Montini guard Terence Williams extended it to 34-30 on 2 free throws with 6.6 seconds remaining.

“I was pleased with our execution in the second half more, minus missing a lot of open shots,” said Fenton coach Josh Payton, who noted the Bison’s 30 percent shooting in the paint. “I saw a little bit more confidence and focus from the kids that I thought needed to step up. We’ve got a lot of kids playing a lot of minutes, and they need to start producing.”

Montini made 11 of 44 shots from the floor, Fenton 12 of 43. Fenton’s Greg Wagner led all scorers with 11 points, and he was saddled with foul trouble after the first quarter. Montini’s Matt Brachmann led the Broncos with 9 points, plus 12 rebounds.

Rebounding was a key for the Broncos, who had lost three straight games, including their first two at Glenbard West. They enter Saturday’s final round playing for fifth place against St. Francis.

“We got more intensity toward the end of the game,” said Montini guard Jack Brady. “Obviously, our shooting was off today, but I think we did a lot better at rebounding, which was a big point of emphasis for today.”

Each team grabbed 36 rebounds, tied in that statistic as they were on the board at halftime, 14-14. Fenton led 19-18 on a Leffew free throw at 4:50 of the third quarter, but Montini answered with a mini-run.

Tom McGillicuddy hit a 3 from the right corner, Williams converted a left-handed drive and Brachmann scored on a putback for a 25-19 Montini lead at 3:36 of the third.

Fenton pulled within 2 points twice thereafter — the last time on David Alden’s off-the-dribble basket at 4:16 of the fourth — but couldn’t get over the top.

“We just need to finish inside and get our stuff together,” Wagner said. “Work our offense around, and we should be fine.”