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Sliwa, Fremd stay hot in opener against Warren

Rarely does a hot streak carry over from one season to the next.

But so far in the current boys basketball season, Fremd junior Kyle Sliwa has proven it can.

Sliwa scored 10 of his game-best 15 points in the second quarter as the Vikings opened their season and play in the Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament with a 61-39 win over Warren.

"I think (Kyle) is going to pick up where he left off last year," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski. "He was a real tough player for us as a sophomore and he has started this year right where he left off last season."

Fremd (1-0) opened up the game with a 12-2 burst in the second quarter, and Sliwa was a big reason why. A long 3-pointer opened the run for Sliwa and the Vikings. Another 3 closed the 12-2 spurt, putting Fremd up 25-12 midway through the second quarter.

"I just kind of got into a rhythm there, and when one fell the others started to go," said Sliwa, who dished out 7 assists as well. "Once the first one fell, I started to get a lot of confidence and things went well from there."

Warren (0-1) closed the half to pull within 29-17 thanks to big 3-pointer from senior guard Corey Ball.

"We have to learn, and that's what we talked about after the game," said first-year Warren coach Jon Jasnoch. "We have to learn to be more patient on offense and on defense."

The Vikings put the game away with another burst in the third quarter. This time senior Patrick Benka and junior Brian Dompke were the benefactors of the smooth passes from Sliwa. Benka scored 7 of his 14 points in the third as the Vikings used a 10-2 run to move the margin to 45-25 near the end of the quarter.

Dompke contributed 10 points, with all but two coming before half. His 10 rebounds led all players.

"We had a lot of good things happen tonight," Widlowski said. "But we have plenty of things to talk with them about that we have to - and will - work on."

One big bright spot for Warren was the effort of first-year varsity player Declan O'Connor. The 6-foot-7 O'Connor, who admitted that he is still getting used to the physicality of the varsity game, scored a team-best 14 points and hauled down 8 boards.

"It was tough coming out - first game for me moving up from the sophomore team," O'Connor said. "Varsity is a lot more physical and something that I have to get used to."

  Warren's Jayson Dorsey drives to the hoop against Fremd on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Warren's Jayson Dorsey, right, drives as Fremd's Austin Schwantz give chase on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Warren's Jayson Dorsey, left, drives on Fremd's Luke Schoffstall on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Warren's Jayson Dorsey passes against Fremd on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Warren's Declan O'Connor, left, drives on Fremd's Brian Dompke on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Warren's Brandon Ellis, right, drives past Fremd's Brian Dompke, left, and Patrick Kurka on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Patrick Kurka (25) shoots over Warren's Jayson Dorsey on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Kyle Sliwa, right, drives on Warren's Josh Pelland on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Payton Kim (10) shoots over Warren's Jayson Dorsey on Monday at Mundelein High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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