Willowbrook wins first conference title since 1972
It seemed as if Willowbrook's boys basketball players needed to let the moment sink in, which is understandable.
None of them were alive the last time the Warriors won a conference championship. Some of their coaches weren't, either.
When history finally did hit the players after Friday's 67-62 victory over visiting Leyden, they sprinted to their massive student section and started the celebration.
After notching their 15th straight victory and a share of their first conference title since 1972, they earned it. Willowbrook (21-6, 9-3), which received a game-high 25 points from sophomore guard Alonzo Verge Jr., will share its first West Suburban Gold crown with Morton after the Mustangs beat Proviso East on Friday.
"It means a lot to come out here with my brothers and win a conference championship for not just us but for everybody who ever went to Willowbrook or is going to go to Willowbrook," said Warriors senior Kyle Rushing, a third-year varsity player. "We're going to try to keep this going the rest of the year."
Willowbrook never trailed after bursting to a 10-2 lead behind four different scorers. A 10-0 run pushed the margin to double digits in the second quarter and a 7-2 run to start the third quarter built the Warriors' biggest lead of 22 points.
Leyden (16-10, 5-7) unleashed a 16-0 third-quarter run to pull within 47-38 on Alex Rose's bucket, but Willowbrook closed the quarter with 7 straight points.
"I was incredibly frustrated with the way we started," said Leyden coach Bill Heisler. "We were getting outworked. They had the energy and momentum on their side. In the second half that changed and it gave us a chance to get back in it."
Leyden made another charge in the fourth quarter. narrowing the gap to 62-56 with two minutes left on a pair of Marcos Herrera free throws. Again, though, Willowbrook responded. First with a pair of Micah Williams free throws and then with a key charge taken on Leyden's next possession.
"It's amazing. I can't believe we did it," said Willowbrook senior guard Jake Bruns. "We're just having fun out there, and I think that's a big part of it."
Rushing scored 7 of his 11 points during the Warriors' second-quarter run. Kevin Miller added 8 of his 11 points in the first quarter.
DeAndre Williams came off the bench to lead Leyden with 16 points while Adam Braxton Jr. scored 15 points.
"It's a monumental moment," said Warriors coach Chris Perkins. "I told the kids it's bigger than just us. For the whole Willowbrook family it's a huge moment."
Follow Kevin on Twitter @kevin_schmit