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Sammons ignites Fremd to Widlowski's 350th career win

Ryan Sammons' first feel-good moment was Feb. 20, 2021. Then a Fremd sophomore, Sammons hit a game-winning 3-pointer to beat Prospect.

"I've really developed my confidence as a player and I have become a stronger player," said Sammons Friday night. "In the summer I hurt my ankle real bad. I worked hard to get back to play with my teammates."

A 19-point performance by Sammons helped lift Fremd to a 46-41 Mid-Suburban West boys basketball win over Schaumburg in Palatine. Sammons would hit 5 of 8 3-point attempts.

"All conference games are competitive," said Sammons. "We expected Schaumburg to come out and play hard. Both teams gave it their all. Cameron Kuhl wasn't starting early in the season but he has stepped up his game and is playing well for us."

"He plays with poise and confidence all the time," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski of Sammons. "He's been doing that since he stepped into this building."

The win kept the Vikings (11-5) in first place in the Mid-Suburban West with a 3-1 conference record. It was also Widlowski's 350th win in 19 season with the Vikings.

"It's a nice achievement," said Widlowski. "But I could not have had the success without the help and assistance from the assistant coaches that have helped me over the years."

A key time in the game was in the second quarter with both teams tied at 18.

Chris Smyros started a 10-0 Viking run that would hold up for the rest of the game.

Caiden Suchy (5 points, 6 rebounds) hit 3 free throws in the run. Kuhl (7 points, 5 rebounds) scored from underneath and a Sammons 3-pointer helped build a 28-18 lead before the Saxons' DJ Wilson scored to finish the half with Fremd ahead 28-20.

Sammons scored a 8 of Fremd's third-quarter points as the Vikings took a 36-30 lead into the fourth quarter.

Wilson would score all of Schaumburg's 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Wilson, who would finish with 21 points and 5 rebounds, pulled the Saxons to within 45-41 with 39 seconds left.

Eli Schoffstall (7 points) would hit 1 of 2 free throws with 33 seconds to go to end the scoring.

"Every game in the MSL West, any team can beat any other team any night," said Widlowski. "You have to be able to execute and you have to play your best. It's especially true this year. Every night you have to bring it. The big thing is we came up with some big stops at the end of the game."

Nicholas Doroskin backed up Wilson with 13 points and 5 rebounds for the Saxons (10-8, 0-5).

"I was happy with our effort," said Schaumburg coach Wade Heisler. "We kept our composure and we executed most of our plays. We've been taking steps forward and that's were we want to be. We battled and we had our chances."

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