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ICCP surges past Montini in second half

The first half contained such excitement as Will Lyles' steal and rim-rattling, two-handed slam, but the frenetic tempo IC Catholic Prep and Montini shared did not tickle IC coach T.J. Tyrrell.

Particularly since IC trailed after one quarter and led by only 3 at halftime.

"Tempo control was the goal for the second half," Tyrrell said.

The locker room message translated to a 21-7 third-quarter IC advantage leading to a 64-51 win over the Broncos in Elmhurst. IC advanced to Wednesday's title game of the ICCP/Westmont Christmas Tournament against two-time defending champion St. Edward.

Lyles said Tyrrell had asked to get in passing lanes. That's what the 6-foot-4 senior did when he snagged the ball and finished, as he said, "with authority."

Again, Lyles listened to his coach.

"We wanted to slow up and use the time to our advantage, not force any bad shots, just get the shots that we want, high shot selection to keep our lead secure," Lyles said.

He joined teammate Troy Burrows with 17 points and added 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals. Austin Reed scored 12 points for the Knights (8-4).

Montini (3-8) thrived in the first half behind sophomore guard Jayston Williams and senior post Kevin Brachmann. The former scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, the latter 8 of his 14 to go with 11 rebounds.

The Broncos led 18-17 after one quarter and were within 35-32 at halftime.

"We were playing pretty good in the beginning," Brachmann said. "We just lost it in that third quarter. They started playing the way they wanted to and they got us off our track a little bit."

Montini coach Daryl Thomas termed it "disastrous." That will happen when an opponent shoots 10 of 15. Tyrrell shifted Tony Gaudio onto Brachmann and Reed onto Williams and praised the defense of both.

Trailing 56-39 entering the fourth, Montini got a spark off the bench by Kevin Bodee, then Brachmann and Williams pulled the Broncos within 59-51 before Burrows stemmed the run from the foul line.

"It's going to take time," said Thomas, who starts sophomores Williams and Mychale Hyland Jr. and freshman Ray Dennis. "We're really, really young. And just confidence, believing in each other and executing, being patient. All those simple things that we try to teach, but it just seems so difficult to do when the moment comes."

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