Glenbard West figures it out

As Glenbard West tried to figure out Josh Ruggles, the key for the Hilltoppers was figuring themselves out.

Overcoming a personal-best night from Wheaton Warrenville South's senior guard, Glenbard West and junior wing Justin Pierce pulled away for Tuesday's 71-59 nonconference road victory.

Ruggles scored his team's first 25 points on the way to a 38 points and eight 3-pointers. Pierce, however, surged late and scored 15 of his 28 in the fourth quarter.

The Hilltoppers (10-12) took the lead for good with a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter capped by a Kalen Starkey putback. Glenbard West made 33 of 41 free throws, including 22 of 29 fourth-quarter attempts. Pierce and Alex Passi combined for 15-of-19 free-throw shooting in the final period.

"We've learned to play in these close games," Pierce said. "We lost a tough one Saturday, but on Friday we were able to win our first really close one of the year. So we're learning as a team. We've gotten so much better throughout the season. Composure at the end of the game. That's the most important thing."

WW South (9-15) burst to an 11-2 lead and led 23-17 with just under two minutes to play in the first half. Ruggles knocked down seven 3-pointers before Glenbard West rallied to tie it at 23 by halftime on a last-second basket by Danny Walker.

Ruggles had all of WW South's points until Ryan Scudder's 3-pointer with about 4:40 left in the third quarter tied it at 28 apiece. After a Glenbard West timeout, the Hilltoppers responded with their decisive 7-0 run.

"When it comes down to it, we just don't get enough stops," said Tigers coach Mike Healy. "(Ruggles) played really well offensively. It was a good battle between him and Pierce. But, again, we just couldn't get any stops."

Passi finished with 14 points for the Hilltoppers while Aidan Gould had 10. Starkey and Walker had 8 points apiece. Matt Dacy-Seijo scored all 8 of his points in the fourth quarter for WW South.

"I was disappointed in our start that we weren't a little bit more focused on getting stops on (Ruggles)," said Hilltoppers coach Tim Hoder. "In stretches I think our kids responded, but at the beginning of the game we didn't respond well."

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