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Willowbrook falls to Hinsdale Central

The regular-season finale for boys basketball teams is a chance to fine-tune what has worked for a squad and a reminder of what doesn't as the postseason looms.

Hinsdale Central prevailed over visiting Willowbrook 57-47 in a West Suburban Conference crossover Wednesday, and both coaches had plenty to take from the contest with both the Warriors and the Red Devils hitting regional play next week.

For Willowbrook (21-7), it was a lesson in avoiding starting out a game slowly and not being able to make up a deficit. The Warriors shot 1 of 9 from the field in the first quarter and 5 of 19 from the half to trail 26-13 at halftime.

"We started off slow and we picked it up in the second half. But we have to come out to a faster start," said Willowbrook coach Chris Perkins. "I thought Carlos Meyers and Billy Degnan played well."

Meyers led the Warriors with 10 points, Degnan had 9.

Willowbrook, playing without sophomore guard Alonzo Verge Jr., finished the contest with a strong second half, outscoring Hinsdale Central 34-31 in the final two quarters but couldn't whittle the Red Devils' advantage to single digits.

Red Devils coach Nick Latorre wasn't pleased with his team's 21 turnovers.

"I thought it was a very sloppy game. I didn't think we played very well," he said. "But give Willowbrook credit, they played hard and got a hand on a ton of our passes."

Senior Matt Rafferty led Hinsdale Central (20-6) with 13 points and 19 rebounds in his second game back after suffering a broken bone in a hand.

The teams could meet again next week if both reach the Class 4A Downers Grove South regional final. Hinsdale Central opens the postseason at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a regional semifinal between the winner of Monday's quarterfinal between 13th-seeded Hinsdale South and the 20th-seeded hosts.

Latorre said he didn't plan anything special in the practices leading up to Tuesday.

"At this point of the season, you just need to get better at the things you do," he said.

Willowbrook is next in action at 7 p.m. Wednesday when it will take on the winner of Monday's other quarterfinal game, either 12th-seeded Downers Grove North or 21st-seeded West Chicago.

"We just need to continue doing what we've been doing all year to get us a No. 5 seed," Perkins said.

Images: Willowbrook vs. Hinsdale Central, boys basketball

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