Fremd nails down No. 300 for Widlowski

Fremd boys basketball coach Bob Widlowski has seen some pretty good shooting on the way to his 300th career win. But nothing like the performance by Jake Schoffstall on Wednesday.

The junior nailed seven 3-pointers in a row in the first half to give Fremd a huge lead. The Vikings then held off a furious Libertyville comeback as Fremd beat the Wildcats 52-49 in the opening round of the 41st annual Wheeling Hardwood Classic.

"I have coached a lot of basketball and I have been at Fremd for 28 years and I have not seen anything like it," Widlowski said. "(Tim) Leslie and (Zack) Monaghan had moments like that. But not seven in a row."

Schoffstall said that he felt good putting up the ball.

"I was just letting them fly," said Schoffstall, who finished with 23 points. "I kept shooting and it felt like I couldn't miss."

Widlowski, who is 300-159 in his 17-plus years as head coach at Fremd, said that he could not have reached such an accomplishment without help. He credited current and former assistants Ron Cregier, Mike Brown and Jason Hogrefe along with Jason Dvorak, Adam Gilmon and Brian Smith as well as Jack Drollinger and Don Crandell for hiring him 17 years ago.

"This is a personal milestone," Widlowski said. "But it is a program achievement. These guys have put in a lot of time, scouting, bus trips and player development."

Libertyville (4-7) almost made Widlwoski wait at least one more game to get to the 300 mark.

The Wildcats found themselves trailing 42-27 with 4:14 left in the third quarter before they began to find their range.

Led by Josh Steinhaus (15 points), Brian Wilterdink (10 points), Patrick Graham (9 points) and Jackson Watson (7 points), Libertyville ran off 10 consecutive points to close to 42-37 with 7:35 to play.

Fremd's Dean Ganas (8 points) responded with a pair of baskets to give the Vikings some breathing room at 46-37. Libertyville then never got closer than the final.

"We were much more active in the second half," Libertyville coach Brian Zyrkowski said. "We just weren't ready to play in the first quarter."

Libertyville assistant coach Rick Kolze, who played for Widlowski at Fremd during Widlowski's first three years as head coach, gave praise to his former mentor.

"I was happy to see him get that milestone," Kolze said. "I was just sorry it was against us, but still it was great to be here for it. In my mind he is a hall of fame coach."