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Camardo helps lead Buffalo Grove comeback

Buffalo Grove 49, Wheeling 29: The Wheeling boys basketball team controlled the tempo and the game in the first quarter Friday against visiting Buffalo Grove.

The final three quarters were a completely different story.

The Wildcats came out of the first eight minutes with a 7-4 lead thanks to a swarming 1-3-1 defense and 4 steals from senior guard Jalen Dennis.

After the first period was in the books, however, Buffalo Grove figured a few things out.

Led by the relentless play of 6-foor-6 junior center Mac Camardo, the Bison stormed back to defeat Wheeling 49-29 in the Mid-Suburban East.

BG improved to 16-9 overall and 7-3 in conference.

"We talked about calming down and executing our game plan (in bewteen the first and second quarters)," said Bison coach Keith Peterson. "We couldn't have played any worse, and yet we were only down one possession."

Wildcats coach Michael O'Keeffe applauded his team's effort at the start and praised BG for its comeback.

"We played great for eight minutes," O'Keeffe said. "Then Buffalo Grove started to move the ball and get some high-low action in the post."

"Keith did a great job game-planning and getting his team ready for us."

The Bison charge began in the second quarter thanks to three straight 3-pointers from guard Colin Calcagno.

Camardo had 8 of his game-high 16 points in the second period as BG opened up a 9-point halftime lead and the Bison didn't let up.

BG kept adding on and when junior Jack Vaselaney nailed a long 3-pointer early in the fourth period the visitors had a 20-point cushion they wouldn't relinquish.

Wheeling was led by 8 points from senior TJ Best but the Wildcats were hurt by long-range shooting woes, going 3-for-20 from behind the arc.

Calcagno finished with 9 points for BG. Vaselaney added 7 while Camardo also grabbed 12 rebounds in a consistent all-around effort.

"There aren't many big guys in the area like Mac," Peterson said. "He knows his role. He rarely strays more than 2 feet from the basket, he rebounds, he's got great footwork for a big man and he can finish."

- Bill Esbrook

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