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Marmion downs Eisenhower behind Esp's 39 points

Marmion senior Jake Esp said he hadn't seen defense like the kind Eisenhower played since AAU ball.

Marmion coach Joe Currie watched video of Grinnell College's run-and-gun style to prepare for the Cardinals.

The Cadets were ready for Eisenhower's ultra-quick pace and five-man lineup changes every 90 seconds. Marmion capitalized with one easy shot after another, shooting 58 percent from the field in a 72-66 win Monday in the first round of the 87th annual Chuck Dayton tournament in DeKalb.

"We knew that coming in, we knew what they were going to do," Currie said. "We wanted to have a semi-pace of what we did, slow it down a little, be strong with the ball, look ahead, make the right pass and our big key was we had to finish layups."

Nobody converted as much as Esp who scored a career-high 39 points on 17-of-25 shooting for the field - none of them more than a couple feet from the basket.

"They don't really play defense in the half court," Esp said. "I just pump fake and drive to the basket.

"In the first quarter I took a couple jumpers and then I realized I could get to the paint any time I wanted to. We just stopped shooting jumpers and started taking layups."

Esp scored 19 points in the first half and 20 in the second. He left the game with his fourth foul with 6:04 remaining and the Cadets up 56-50.

Eisenhower (6-3) scored five straight to cut the lead to 1, and Currie brought Esp back with 4:02 left. Esp hit two free throws, and after Matt Fletcher added a pair at the line, Esp scored on a perfect sideline out of bounds pass from Jordan Glasgow to make it 62-59.

Esp scored 4 more in the final two minutes while Eisenhower put the closing touches on a cold-shooting day that saw them launch 58 3s - and miss 47.

Overall Eisenhower shot 25 of 86 (29 percent) from the field, staying in the game by forcing 35 turnovers with its full-court press.

"We knew there was going to be turnovers and we tried to limit that," Currie said.

Nineteen of those came in the first half as Marmion trailed by as many as 12 points. The Cadets were down 38-34 at halftime before taking control by outscoring Eisenhower 18-5 in the third.

Currie said point guard John Young made a big difference in the third quarter by taking away Eisenhower's outlet to slow the pace. The Cadets also switched between mostly zone and some man looks.

Glasgow added 14 points for the Cadets while Fletcher had 9 points and 13 rebounds.

"Jake came up big," Currie said. "Every guy we sent in there really came through and did what they are supposed to. Great team win. I told the kids you aren't going to see speed like that in a long time. Great win for the program."

Marmion (5-3) will play Glenbrook North in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Khalil Williams led Eisenhower with 23 points.

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