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Bartlett withstands Lake Park charge

In his first two games Bartlett junior Ben Tompson has had quite an introduction to varsity boys basketball competition.

"(Monday's opener) was definitely a wakeup call with Downers Grove North and their length," Tompson said. "(But) teams aren't all 6-foot-5 and have a huge wingspan like Downers did."

Smaller Lake Park posed a different challenge Tuesday.

Despite 30 points from Tompson and after leading by 16 points at halftime, the Hawks eventually had to fight off the Lancers 64-62 in the Wheaton Academy Thanksgiving Tournament's second day of five-team, round-robin play.

On the final possession Lake Park senior Andrew Vega missed a 3-pointer from the corner, and senior Garett Fant missed a double-pump 3 after just making two as part of his 15-point fourth quarter. Vega also managed a desperation 3 just before the buzzer that grazed the side of the backboard.

"(Fant) was lighting it up in the last two, three minutes of the game. That last shot I thought for sure was going in," Tompson said. "We had a good tempo in the first half. It was kind of disappearing at the beginning of the fourth quarter and things kind of went downhill."

Both teams are inexperienced. Bartlett (1-1) did many things well with Tompson and sophomore Austin Gates' 14 points and 6 steals leading the way. Junior Ben Fisher added 9 points.

In the Lancers' opener seniors Vega had 19 points and 6 rebounds and Fant had 16 points. Junior reserve Daniel Spejcher added 7 points.

Bartlett led 48-36 entering the fourth quarter but got just two free throws from Tompson in the final 1:13 after Fisher's inside basket for a 62-56 lead.

"One of the byproducts of having a young team is learning to win at the varsity level," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "I'm glad they got the win, but when you know they're going to come after you, you have to be even more disciplined. We missed some easy shots, missed a couple of layups, free throws and forced some shots and forced some turnovers (by us). You run your offense and make them come to you. I thought our kids were a little more panicked from top to bottom."

Lake Park, which had Monday's bye, used consecutive 3s by Gant, Vega and Gant to close to 62-59. Gant, fouled attempting another 3, made two free throws for the 64-62 score with 28.9 seconds remaining.

Lake Park regained the ball after Gant drew an offensive foul with 20.4 seconds left, Bartlett's 13th turnover of the second half.

The Lancers committed 27 turnovers with 17 in the first half to trail 38-22.

"Even with the second half, 30 fouls, 30 turnovers, you're going to lose. It's amazing we only lost by 2," Lake Park coach Josh Virostko said.

"We just weren't solid. Part of it is the first game and part of it is we lack the leadership because haven't had a lot of guys who have played (varsity) before. They had a lot more poise. I think we played hard. We just didn't play under control."

Taking advantage of many double-bonus chances, the Hawks made 28 of 36 free throws compared with the Lancers' 19 of 32. Tompson was 9 for 10 and 4 for 4 in the fourth quarter, when Bartlett was 10 for 12.

Bartlett was 11 for 21 in its 48-35 loss to Downers North.

"That's something we've really been putting an emphasis on in practice," Tompson said.

It helped Tompson come near his 32 points against Prairie Ridge for his final game on last year's sophomore team. Tompson and Gates combined for 30 of Bartlett's first 33 points Tuesday with Gates scoring the first 8.

"We had a great tempo, we were pressing and guys like Austin and Tomas (Vikonis) were flying around," Tompson said.

"I was kind of resigned it was going to be a blowout but we got a little lucky because they're young," Virostko said. "Then we're just begging for a shot at the end. If you play solid, that's how you win games."

  Bartlett's Drew Martin drives past Lake Park's Brady Olenek during the Wheaton Academy boys basketball tournament Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  Lake Park's Daniel Spejcher takes a shot against Bartlett during the Wheaton Academy boys basketball tournament Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  Lake Park's Garett Fant drives to the hoop past Bartlett's Drew Martin during the Wheaton Academy boys basketball tournament Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Ben Tompson drives past Lake Park's Daniel Spejcher during the Wheaton Academy boys basketball tournament Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Ben Fisher takes a shot over Lake Park's Daniel Spejcher during the Wheaton Academy boys basketball tournament Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Resheed Tatum drives past Lake Park's Tommy Zakic during the Wheaton Academy boys basketball tournament Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
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