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Wheaton Academy can't stay with ACC

Sophomore point guard Mac Cowen explained how the Aurora Central Catholic boys basketball team's usually high-powered offense found another formula for success Wednesday at Wheaton Academy.

“Defensive adjustments over the last week of practice — that's all we've been working on,” Cowen said. “Defense, defense, defense, and then drilling it. And then it came out in the game tonight. We performed on defense.”

Trailing by five points early in the third quarter, the Chargers put the clamps on the Warriors the rest of the way for a 58-45 Metro Suburban Conference West Division victory in West Chicago.

After a timeout by ACC coach Nathan Drye, the Chargers (9-9, 3-3) responded with an 11-1 run to turn a 35-30 deficit into a 46-36 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors (4-15, 1-4) scored just 10 points the final 13:49, with four of those points coming in the final 1:06.

“It was (a 2-3) zone all game, actually. We were just getting up in the lanes because they were big. We were wanting to jump on them,” ACC sophomore guard Brett Czerak said.

“We had a couple of games before this where we struggled defensively. We weren't as intense as we needed to be. (Drye) got on us about that and we knew we had to step it up. We made it like a goal to lock them down.”

This was ACC's first victory this season with fewer than 61 points scored and only its second with fewer than 74.

The Chargers had four starters in double figures, led by senior Mario May, and still made six 3-pointers. But they also shot 12 for 32 in the first half to only lead 28-27.

“It was good to win when we didn't shoot particularly well. We had to grind it out on defense,” Drye said.

“I thought we did a really good job the final 12-14 minutes of the game. I thought we really guarded and didn't give them anything. Once you get ahead, it's hard to rush against the zone. We didn't give them any quick looks and they kind of had to force stuff. I thought we won it on the defensive end, which was great.”

The Warriors came out flying in the second half with two 3s from senior Bryce Sandberg and a layup by Tommy Blum after creating a steal. But they made just one free throw the rest of the quarter and didn't score again until 5:32 remained. Up until then, they had missed 10 consecutive shots, including six 3s, with 4 turnovers.

“If you don't shoot the ball well, you're not going to win a lot of games,” Wheaton Academy coach Pete Froedden said. “I think we guarded hard, guarded well. For the most part we defended well.”

ACC often attacked inside to offset its outside shooting woes, but it was a 3 by Cowen on a kick-out by May that actually started the third-quarter comeback. Czerak then scored inside off a pass by May, who then scored off a feed by Cowen.

“A little combination there (between us),” Cowen said. “Mario was huge — a huge presence on offense and defense.”

A versatile 6-foot-4 post, May had two 3s and 6 assists. He also helped ACC limit the Warriors to 1 offensive rebound in the first half and 5 for the game.

“I think (May) was the key to the defense. He kept their bigs away from the basket all night long and didn't give up any layups or let himself get hooked or anything like that,” Drye said.

The Warriors have lost seven straight games, three by a combined six points. They showed no signs of fatigue from a 57-55 conference loss at Fenton on Tuesday, although Froedden used 12 players in the first half Wednesday. Reserves combined for 18 points, including two second-quarter 3s from Luke Manske.

“I was so tickled to death with how our guys came out and focused and fought,” Froedden said. “Even though we didn't shoot well tonight, there was not one ounce of letup. Those are the kind of things you can grow on.”

  Anthony Polinski of Wheaton Academy takes a 3 pointer during the Aurora Central Catholic at Wheaton Academy boys basketball Wednesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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