Confident Addison Trail handles Palatine

In its nearly 50-year history Addison Trail's varsity boys basketball program hasn't enjoyed all that much postseason success.

But if you were able to judge the Blazers' performance at this weekend's Lake Zurich MLK tournament, there may very well be an extended second season on the horizon.

Addison Trail defeated Palatine 57-39 in Pool A final round action Monday afternoon to earn a ticket to Monday evening's tourney final versus Pool B winner Geneva.

"We're gaining confidence," Blazers coach Brendan Lyons said. "This is our second year here, and we really enjoy the variety of competition that this tournament brings. We have a tremendous opportunity in front us that we can take into conference play."

Addison Trail (11-6) advanced to the final on the strength of dominant first quarter that had them ahead 21-6 after the first eight minutes of play. It started on back-to-back 3s from 6-foot senior guard Jack Kalbas (game-high 19 points), followed by a Bobby Daniels putback that had the Blazers ahead 8-0 nearly two and a half minutes in.

After Palatine (6-14) got on the board with treys from Johnny O'Shea (team-high 13 points) and Jake Moertl, pulling the Pirates within 12-6, a 9-0 Blazers run led by 5 points from Breydon Hargrove closed out the first period.

The Blazers took a 31-16 lead into halftime, and Palatine got no closer than 12 the rest of the way. Kalbas made five 3s.

"When you come out as flat as we did, you get what you deserve," Palatine coach Eric Millstone said after his squad was 15-for-48 from the field while being out-rebounded 30-13.

Still, the ninth-year Pirates coach sees his squad making progress, as it looked forward to a matchup with Niles North in a second-place pool play final.

"We are seeing bits and pieces of our team coming together," he said. "We're starting to develop a good mix with our rotation. We are beginning to see our team get better."