Full-fledged effort carries Rolling Meadows past Buffalo Grove
A complete-game effort led Rolling Meadows to a victory over Buffalo Grove on Friday night in Mid-Suburban East boys basketball.
“Our coaches were preaching to us that if we hustled, played hard, and played for 32 minutes, we'd get the win,” said Mustangs senior guard Gio Carrillo.
“We talked about that — playing for 32 minutes and not letting things bother us,” said Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich.
The Mustangs took the message to heart, especially in a clamp-down second-half defensive stand.
Meadows allowed BG only 4 points in the third quarter enroute to a 62-56 win against the visiting Bison.
Freshman Max Christie led Meadows with 22 points, while Carrillo scored 12.
The first quarter was a battle of big men, as 6-foot-6 BG center Mac Camardo scored his team's first 10 points, while 6-4 senior Ryan Carney of Meadows hit 3 quick buckets to stake the Mustangs to an early lead.
The Bison battled back with 18 second quarter points to take a 36-33 halftime advantage.
“We had to make some halftime adjustments,” said Katovich, “and the kids responded.”
Three consecutive driving layups by senior guard Willis Goodwin put the Mustangs on the board early in the third quarter.
The Meadows defense then kicked it into high gear, allowing BG only a basket and free throw by Camardo and a Tom Trieb free throw in the third period.
The Mustangs led throughout the fourth quarter, but BG senior guard Jack Vaselaney scored 12 of his game high 24 points in the final period to lead a Bison comeback.
The game wasn't decided until the final minute. After a Camardo bucket brought BG to within 54-51 with 1:01 remaining in the game, a drive and layup by Christie put Meadows back in the driver's seat.
Late free throws by Christie helped put the game in the win column for the Mustangs.
Camardo finished with 19 hard-earned points for BG, while Christie added 9 boards to his team-high point total.
Carney pitched in with 14 points for Meadows.
“This has been our story all season,” said Katovich. “All twelve guys contribute. Everyone we put in steps up.
“There was a whole lot of unselfishness from our guys tonight.”