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Schaumburg gets back at Conant

After being swept by rival Conant last season in both regular- season contests, the Schaumburg boys basketball team had a long wait before it got another crack at the Cougars.

But the wait seemed to be well worth it as the Saxons hosted the Cougars and used a second-half explosion to push by their nemesis, 48-37, in Mid-Suburban League West play Friday night.

"We were motivated in the days leading up to this game for revenge," said Saxons' junior guard Jason Schoo. "They're our rivals and it was also an important win for us being the first conference game and all."

Schoo was held scoreless in the first half as both teams struggled to find any offensive rhythm and Conant clung to a 16-14 lead at intermission.

Conant extended its lead to 21-16 midway through the third quarter and then Schoo and senior forward Brendan Parker (18 points) put on a clinic, scoring 28 of the team's final 32 points and shooting an impressive 10-for-13 from the field.

Schoo knotted the game at 21 in the third when he drained the first of his three 3-pointers on the evening and then Parker drained back-to-back jumpers, the second a buzzer-beater, to end the period with a flourish and give the Saxons a 30-27 lead they would not relinquish.

"I started to gain confidence as the game wore on," said Schoo. "The team started to play better and I started to get really comfortable with my shot."

Ahead 36-29 with less than four minutes remaining, the Saxons appeared well on their way to victory, but consecutive long- range bombs by Conant senior forward Daniel Sotos cut the lead to 36-35.

However, Schoo answered right back with another triple that gave the Saxons some breathing room. Parker then followed suit just seconds later with a 3-pointer of his own as the Saxon lead stretched to 42-35, part of a 12-2 run to close out the contest.

"Our youth and inexperience showed tonight," said Conant coach Tom McCormack. "We had a lead to start the second half and I felt we were defending well, but then mentally we just broke down."

"We only had a 27-25 rebounding advantage tonight, with our distinct size advantage, we have to be more warrior-like on the glass."

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