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Fremd takes command against Conant

The Fremd boys basketball team was not going to let this game get away.

When the Vikings played at Conant in December, they let a third-quarter lead slip away and lost decisively to the Cougars.

On Friday night at Fremd, the Vikings took charge in the second half to pull away to a convincing 54-38 win to deny Conant (16-6, 8-1) the Mid-Suburban West title outright.

The Fremd win tightens up the Mid-Suburban West race with just one week to go.

"We still have a chance to grab a share of the conference title," said junior forward Brian Dompke. "We want to finish the last two weeks of the season on a high note."

Dompke and guard Kyle Sliwa were singing soprano in the second half when the Vikings broke away from an 18-all tie at halftime.

"Coach talked to us at halftime about getting back to executing both on offense and defense," said Dompke. "I felt really good tonight on the floor and Kyle was able to find me a few times in good scoring position."

Dompke scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, including 10 in the decisive fourth quarter. Sliwa finished with 12 points, of which 10 points came in the final frame.

"I thought in this game we boxed out really well and that kept their big men off the boards and limited them to one shot most of the time," said Sliwa, who also had 4 assists. "We hit our free throws well in the fourth quarter (12 of 15). We've had some games where the free throw shooting has hurt us."

Dompke scored the first two baskets to start the second half. A key offensive rebound off of a miss by Ryan Martin led to Dompke's second basket. Moments later, Patrick Benka (8 points) had a putback basket to make it 24-18 with 5:26 left in the quarter.

Benka's basket to end the quarter with Fremd (18-6, 7-2) ahead 30-26 helped started a 13-0 run that gave the Vikings a 41-26 lead with 4:29 left.

Dompke scored the first 7 points of the fourth quarter.

"Dompke was a difference-maker tonight," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski. "He did a lot of nice things. He got some timely rebounds and attacked the basket. He played well at key points of the game. Kyle played strong and had some nice finishes on his basket and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

"We knew (Jimmy) Sotos would get his points, but we made him work pretty hard for them."

Sotos ended up with a game-high 21, while Ryan Davis added 9 points and 7 rebounds for Conant.

"This was one of the few times were were out-rebounded in a game," said Conant coach Tom McCormack of Fremd's 17-14 edge. "We each had about 12 turnovers - but they scored more points (11-4) than we did off theirs. This was a much more physical game. We didn't stay up with their physical style.

"We knew it would be tough coming in here. When they got the momentum, it just started to steamroll. Now we're just hoping to get healthy over the next week."

Fremd will host Schaumburg next Friday, while the Cougars travel to Hoffman Estates to take on the Hawks.

"We just now need to take care of our own business next week," said Widlowski. "I thought we played very well tonight."

Images: Fremd topples Conant 54 to 38

  Conant's Ryan Davis knocks the ball away from Fremd's Kyle Sliwa on a drive to the basket in the first half at Fremd on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Samson Oladimeji brings down the rebound on a shot by Conant's Chima Oduocha on Friday in Palatine. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Samson Oladimeji pressures Conant's Ryan Davis on Friday in Palatine. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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