Benet's defense never rests against York

For three quarters on Saturday, shooting was a definite struggle for Benet's boys basketball team.

That second-quarter perimeter performance, however, made all the difference.

Knocking down five of their seven 3-pointers leading up to halftime, the Redwings built a lead that carried them to a 39-31 nonconference win over York in Elmhurst.

Benet (4-2) used a 19-3 run to erase an early 10-2 deficit, and then leaned on its defense the rest of the way.

"In the first few games of the season, we weren't defending like we were capable of," said Benet junior Dan Sobolewski. "We were letting up 50 or 60 points a game. And these past two games we let up 34 and (31) points. To score 39 points and still win a game, that's good for our team."

The game was played in front of a big crowd that came out to pay tribute to 6-year-old Payton O'Brien, an Elmhurst first-grader diagnosed with bone cancer in February. In addition to Relay For Life's night of raising awareness and money for the American Cancer Society, at halftime Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley declared Saturday "Payton O'Brien Day" and even swore in the youngster as an Elmhurst firefighter - complete with his own helmet.

"You lose a basketball game but obviously this was a great night that was much more important than just basketball," said York coach Vince Doran. "Benet's very good defensively. It was tough to manufacture baskets out there tonight, but I thought we did a good job of getting open looks. We just didn't hit them."

Five players scored as York (4-3), playing its second straight game without Jayvon Thomas, jumped to a 10-2 first-quarter lead, but Benet began scorching the nets in the second quarter. Jeff Conrad and Colin Bonnett each knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and James Dockery added a fifth.

By halftime the Redwings led 21-13. The Dukes pulled within 4 points in the third quarter, but Sobolewski added a pair of second-half 3-pointers to boost the advantage to double digits midway through the fourth quarter.

An 8-2 York run narrowed the gap to 6 points but the Redwings did just enough at the free-throw line to maintain its distance.

Sobolewski led nine Benet scorers by tallying all 10 of his points in the second half. Dockery added 9 points, which is what Jack Julian scored to lead York.

"This is a good program that we were playing, and any time you can win against a good team you've got to feel good about what you did," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp.

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