Lake Zurich wins Pekin title

The top-seeded team ended up winning the boys basketball tournament at Pekin, but Plainfield East made sure Lake Zurich earned it.

In spite of a game-high 37 points from 6-foot-5 senior Aaron Jordan, the Bears won 62-59 Wednesday night to finish a 4-0 tournament run and clinch the tournament title for the first time in its 19 years. Jordan won tournament MVP honors; no one else scored in double figures for the Bengals against Lake Zurich.

Senior Mike Travlos led the way for the Bears (11-2), finishing with 20 points and earning all-tourney honors. Will McClaughry had 15 points, Jack O'Neill had 11 and Nick Penny, who also earned an all-tournament selection, finished with 8 for coach Billy Pitcher's team.

Nick Meyer's last-second 3 to win the game came with an assist from Penny.

The Bears had jumped out to a 10-point lead at the half after not committing a single turnover.

"This is definitely the highlight of my five years as head coach," said Pitcher, "but we as a team know we have to continue working hard and have bigger games and bigger goals at the end of the season."

Travlos, O'Neill and Meyer each had a pair of 3s for Lake Zurich, and McClaughry and Penny had 1 each.