Kimpler, Libertyville march past Mundelein
Over the first couple of weeks of the season, Libertyville's boys basketball team had to wait for its football players to return to the hardcourt.
At issue, of course, was a great run to the Class 7A state championship game.
The wait was over for Ben Kimpler and Brandon Rule, as they officially returned to basketball competition on Wednesday night.
Both players started on the bench, but the 6-foot-6 Kimpler made a big impact in the third quarter by scoring 9 of his 11 points. He also blocked 5 shots and pulled down 5 rebounds in a 21-5 run as Libertyville ran away from host Mundelein 73-48 in the North Suburban Lake Division opener for both teams.
Kimpler was a standout defensive end on the football field for the Wildcats. Now he's a good fit at the No. 5 spot, and he showed his dynamic ability in the third quarter by getting a steal, driving the length of the court and throwing down a powerful dunk.
"I saw my guy go out for a flare," said Kimpler, who has committed to play football at Miami (Ohio). "I went out to the top of the key to get that ball. I just used my D-end mentality to go intercept that ball. I didn't intend on dunking that ball. I just got that high and wanted to put it down.
"It's good to get the basketball legs going. Coming off the football season, I'm used to the five- or ten-second plays - to going to this, which is five minutes of constant running. I'm just trying to get my legs back into it. I love competing. That's why I'll play all three sports this year (the other being baseball)."
At the break, Libertyville (4-2, 1-0) led 31-27. Kimpler and coach Brent Mork asked for, and received, better intensity in the second half.
"It all about doing the little things with these guys," Mork said. "We've been harping for four weeks now. Hopefully, they're starting to realize, when they freelance, or if they don't take the extra steps, we can beat teams all day long. We have to do the little things right all the time to be successful. Finally, it started to click in the second half - and on both ends of the floor. Then our execution was better."
The Wildcats led 51-32 heading into the fourth quarter. Harrison Bach led Libertyville with a game-high 16 points and Jabari Quigley added 9.
Mundelein (0-6, 0-1) actually played quite well early after falling behind 7-0 in the opening couple of minutes.
The Mustangs were down 16-11 at the end of the first quarter and then worked their way to take a 1-point lead a couple of times in the second quarter before trailing by 4 at the break.
"We did what we're supposed to do in the first half," Mundelein coach Corey Knigge said. "Then in the second half, we stopped what we were doing in the first half. If was like we thought the game was over when we were down by 4.
"We played defense like we're supposed to play defense (in the first half). We were in passing lanes and contained the basketball. We rebounded and we competed. Offensively, we moved the ball on the pass, we talked and we communicated with each other. As soon as something goes bad in the second half, then we lose all of it."
Tommy Marcotte led the Mustangs with a team-high 15 points and Andrew Silva chipped in with 10 points and 11 rebounds.