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Benet impressive against Conant

Obviously, Benet did not enjoy its long, heartbreaking loss Friday night in Chicago Heights, but Saturday's opposing coach also did not like that outcome.

Conant coach Tom McCormack would rather the Redwings had entered Saturday's big nonconference showdown off a win, instead of maybe a little extra inspired. If the Redwings were at all tired after the double-overtime loss to Marian Catholic, they did not show it at all in an impressive 58-38 win in a game that featured a pair of teams that started night at 7-1.

Six Benet players knocked down 3-pointers led by Dan Sobolewski's trio of 3s and a game-high 15 points. The home team had just 2 turnovers on the night, contained the Cougars' 6-foot-8 twin towers despite a height disadvantage and played superb on both ends of the court.

“They had (six) different guys hits 3s and we felt like we were chasing them around all night long,” McCormack said after his team's seven-game winning streak came to an end. “I wasn't real happy when I saw that they had lost last night. We know what kind of pride they have. We like to feel we're the same way. But when you're playing against a real good team you don't like to see them come in after a loss. Let a sleeping dog lie.”

Benet led just 10-9 after one quarter as Conant 6-8 sophomore Ryan Davis had three baskets and the Redwings missed 8 of 11 shots from the field. But a 19-5 run in the second quarter, capped by a James Dockery 3-pointer at the buzzer, put Benet on top 29-14 at the half.

“We had a tough loss last night in double overtime, so we knew we had to put that behind us and just get after it,” said Redwings forward Jason Malonga, who finished with 13 points and 2 assists. “We executed and we stopped them on offense, and we got the results. I guess we were kind of tired, but we knew we had to get this win. We couldn't go oh-for-the-weekend.”

After a slow start shooting, the Redwings went 7 of 11 in the second quarter, including 3s from Dockery, Sobolewski and Jack Nolan. The offense featured quick passes that led to good looks, and Benet did not turn the ball over once in the first half.

“Conant's an excellent team and to come out and beat a team like that tonight says a lot about their effort considering how things went last night,” Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. “It was a good mix. I think we played very unselfishly tonight. It was a very solid effort on both ends of the floor.”

The Cougars closed to within 34-23 in the third quarter following a basket by Davis, who led Conant with 13 points. But Benet answered with a 3 from Sobolewski and a three-point play by Malonga to stay comfortably ahead.

“We shared the ball really well,” Sobolewski said. “When we're taking good shots and moving the ball we're petty tough to guard. Last night was really tough. We played two overtimes and some of us played 40 minutes or close to it. Today was really a gut check.”

Benjamin Schols hit a trio of 3s in the second half to finish with 11 points for the Cougars, while fellow guard James Sotos hit a pair of 3s. Davis led the Cougars with 9 rebounds, and his 6-8 teammate Michael Downing blocked 3 shots.

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