Dundee-Crown tightens D, defeats Cary-Grove
After giving up 23 points to Cary-Grove in the first quarter, Dundee-Crown coach Lance Huber realized his team had to play much better on the defensive end to have any chance of registering a Fox Valley Conference road victory.
The Chargers tightened up defensively giving up only 29 points in the final three quarters in nipping the host Trojans 54-51.
"We got out on their 3-point shooters better and didn't allow as many easy shots," said Huber. "We just played tougher on the defensive end. This is certainly one of our better games of the season. We played very well to beat a very good Cary-Grove team on the road."
The Trojans came out sizzling in the first quarter connecting on 9-of-15 shots from the field for 60 percent and 3-of-4 from 3-point range for 75 percent. Holding a 23-16 advantage after 8 minutes, Cary-Grove was paced by Ryan Weaver who scored 10 points with a pair of 3s.
Dundee-Crown (7-1, 2-1), led by 6 second quarter points from Brad Stec, got within 32-30 at halftime.
The Chargers took the lead for good at 42-39 after a conventional 3-point play from Jack Michalski with 5 seconds left in the third quarter.
D-C's biggest lead was 53-45 after 2 free throws from Damarion Butler with 1:08 remaining.
Jordan Hairston paced a balanced D-C attack with 12 points, Butler scored 11 with 6 assists and 5 steals while Michalski scored 10 with 6 rebounds. Josh Raby scored 7 and Stec tallied 6 with 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
"This was a very very good win," said Butler. "Cary-Grove is always a tough place to play. Coach Huber emphasized we have to play tough and it will be a game of runs. We know we have to play well to win here on the road. We knew we had to play better defense after the first quarter. We know each other well and have really good team chemistry."
Huber praised Butler's play.
"D (Damarion) did a real good job of running our offense," said Huber. "He made his free throws and came up with clutch plays down the stretch."
Weaver led the Trojans with 15 including 3 treys while Jakubicek scored 14 while Beau Frericks scored 12. The trio scored 41 of the Trojans' 51 points.
"Their quickness and toughness was a factor," said Cary-Grove coach Adam McCloud. "They start 5 football players and they out-toughed us. They are very athletic and we knew we would be in a dogfight. They won the battle on the glass. We have high aspirations as a team. We have lost 2 games by 4 points. This was a tough loss we need to bounce back from."