Better effort helps Buffalo Grove past Marmion

Don't call Buffalo Grove tall, and don't call them overpowering.

But when the Bison shoot 27 of 46 from the floor like they did Wednesday night against Marmion Academy, call them winners.

BG applied what it hopes will become its trademark defensive pressure, shot the ball with uncanny precision, showed great depth and added surprisingly effective rebounding against taller Marmion Academy in evening its record at 1-1 in a 71-57 win after the third night of the Bison Classic they are hosting this holiday weekend.

"We shot the ball extremely well tonight," Buffalo Grove coach Keith Peterson said. But he was more pleased with the intensity and focus, an upgrade over Monday's loss to Grayslake Central. "Our effort tonight was way better."

Especially on the boards and on defense, where the Bison were able to separate themselves from the Cadets (1-1).

Keyed by guards Jack Vaselaney, Caleb Mayhorn, and, off the bench, Leo Rule, Joe Faraci and Collin Dekorsi, the Bison were able to ignite for 17-3 run that turned a 33-32 deficit in the third quarter into a 49-36 lead.

Vaselaney (20 points) was the principle culprit, starting the run with a 3. Dekorsi turned a steal into a Hans Haller basket, Pinakidis added a 3-point play when he hit a free throw, missed another and turned the rebound into a layup thanks to Jimmy Trieb keeping the ball alive and Mac Camardo added a putback and a buzzer-beater layin on a nice feed from a seemingly trapped Zack Fricke.

"Our defensive pressure was great," Vaselaney said. "And we got on the boards."

Principally that was Haller and Pinakidis, who held their own against Marmion's imposing frontline of Mick Sullivan (team-high 11 points), Matt Fletcher and Mike Seraphin.

"They played fantastic," Vaselaney added of big guys Pinakidis, Haller and Camardo, who combined for 29 points.

Marmion never outran speedy BG down the floor.

"We didn't run the way we can," said Cadets coach Joe Currie, who also observed his team not finishing around the basket the way he knows it can.

BG did, though.

"We're looking for consistency," Peterson said. "We want to play a little faster because of our size. Our defense is what is going to make us successful."