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Bartlett tops Crystal Lake South for third at Jacobs

Bartlett broke open a close game by scoring the first 13 points of the fourth quarter on its way to a 57-39 victory over Crystal Lake South on Thursday in the third-place game at Jacobs' Hinkle Holiday Classic.

The Hawks forced 22 turnovers, and two of them came on the Gators' first two possessions of the fourth quarter. Austin Gates took his steal the other way for a layup while being fouled, and Byron Price followed with a putback basket to quickly extend a 38-33 lead to 43-33.

Gates had 6 steals in the game and Price 5.

"I thought we came out in the fourth quarter and played great defense, really shut them down," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "We put our foot down in that fourth quarter."

Bartlett's 13-0 run continued with a basket by Price, a baseline drive from Ben Fisher, a layup by Tomas Vikonis and 2 Garrett Jurina free throws.

Gates (18 points), Fisher (11), Price (10) and Vikonis (10) all scored in double figures as the Hawks rallied to go 4-1 in the tournament without Ben Tompson (ankle). Wolfsmith said he hopes to get Tompson back sometime in January.

"Given how we came in scuffling a little, really good job by our kids," Wolfsmith said. "I like the way we are trending."

Crystal Lake South (7-7) never led. The Gators tied the game twice, once at 2-2 and the other at 17 midway through the second quarter.

Gates put the Hawks back up with a 3-point shot, then Price came up with a steal and layup. Vikonis ended the quarter with a 3 to put Bartlett up 29-20 at halftime.

"I thought our press really messed with them tonight, creating chaos," Gates said. "We forced a lot of errors.

"We all played good, played as a team, happy to bounce back after a bad performance. It feels great to get a quality win."

The bad performance Gates referred to was a semifinal loss to Barrington, the only defeat Bartlett (7-7) suffered at Jacobs.

Fisher and Vikonis both made the all-tournament team, as did Tyler Haskin for the Gators.

"He played very tough," Crystal Lake South coach Matt LePage said. "As a senior getting a lot out of him. His attitude and toughness is there every night."

Haskin had 8 points and 5 rebounds Thursday, second on the team to Kyle Leva's 11 points and 10 boards.

Leva and Matthew Reall both hit last-second shots for wins over Streamwood and Grant, respectively, in what was an exciting tournament for Crystal Lake South.

"It was still a positive tournament," LePage said. "It's just a matter of overcoming some tough games here at the end.

"Turnover city is the name of the game. Can't have it against a good team like Bartlett. We had a rough night handling the basketball and they made us pay for every turnover going the other way."

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