St. Charles East spoils Batavia's Senior Night
St. Charles East senior guard Zach Mitchell appears to be rounding into form at the most opportune time.
Mitchell, who got off to a late start on the basketball court after quarterbacking the Saints' football team to the Class 8A state quarterfinals last fall, poured in a game-high 20 points during St. Charles East's 65-47 Upstate Eight Conference River Division triumph over host Batavia (15-12, 4-8) Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-3 varsity veteran connected on four 3-pointers - three of them coming in the first half as the Saints (18-8, 9-3) built a 33-16 lead.
"I haven't been able to catch a break," said Mitchell, who missed both games in last season's Class 4A sectional tournament due to appendicitis. "I had the noro (norovirus in January) and then the flu. I've just been trying to get healthy."
With the Class 4A regional tournament starting next week, a healthy Mitchell is just what the Saints need.
"He did exactly what we expect Zach Mitchell to do," said Saints coach Pat Woods, whose team opens postseason play on March 1 against either Bartlett (17-12) or South Elgin (18-10) at Larkin. "I'm happy for him and I'm happy for us.
"He told me that he feels the best he has felt all year. He was fighting a cold and congestion the last three or four weeks."
The Saints also received solid performances from 6-5 junior forward Justin Hardy (18 points, 11 rebounds) and 6-3 sophomore guard Nate Ortiz (15 points, 7 rebounds).
Mitchell, Hardy and Ortiz combined for 53 of the Saints' 65 points with nine 3-pointers while shooting 17 for 25 from the field (68 percent).
"We shot the ball well," said Woods. "I think we're in a good place. We're kind of clicking on all cylinders and I love the tempo we're playing at. Our rebounding has consistently gotten better although I was disappointed in our second-half effort.
"We've still got to clean up some things."
Mitchell kick-started a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer as the Saints extended their lead to 42-16 midway through the third quarter.
"We're hitting our stride as a team right now and I'm finally getting back in the loop," said Mitchell. "We're all coming together and playing the best basketball we have all year at the right time."
Back-to-back 3-pointers from junior Kyle LeFevre (9 points) helped the Bulldogs trim the Saints' lead to 53-41 with 5:50 remaining.
Mitchell silenced the Senior Night crowd with a 3-point play on the Saints' ensuing possession.
"St. Charles East is playing really well right now," said Batavia coach Jim Nazos. "They can make a nice run in that sectional (at Larkin)."
Junior Eric Peterson led the Bulldogs with 16 points on 7 for 7 field-goal shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Batavia opens its own 4A regional against Metea Valley Monday night.
"I still believe we're a team that can make a run here," said Nazos. "We have some lapses that are costing four- to six-point runs each time. We need a couple good, strong days of practice."