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Conant downs Providence to reach Tosh quarterfinals

Conant's boys basketball team used a balance offensive attack and a shutdown defense in defeating Providence 54-39 at the 45th annual Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York High School Thursday afternoon.

The win will now pit the 7-6 Cougars against Conant coach James Maley's former team, the St. Laurence Vikings, who slid by Hinsdale South in a quarterfinal Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Raj Mittal and sophomore Devon Ellis each scored 17 points, Anthony Wachal scored 11 points and Johnathan Kolev had 9 points to lead a balanced Cougars attack.

"The loss to Fremd last week taught us that if we play tough defense we can win games," said Maley, "Today we were active on defense with our zone. It wasn't passive because we were able to force turnovers."

The Cougars' defense led to offense. Trailing 13-8 after the first quarter to the 5-8 Celtics, Conant became stingy on defense.

A basket by Ellis with two seconds left in the first half gave the Cougars a short-lived 25-23 halftime lead.

Tied at 25 just into the third quarter, Conant went on a 13-0 run while holding Providence scoreless for six minutes. Fueled by 6 points by Mittal and 5 by Ellis the lead increased to 38-25.

"Today a lot of players shot the ball well," said Mittal. "Guys gave up the ball to make better plays for other players. Everyone was a threat to score. When we play like that and play good defense it's a deadly combination. I think this was the best defensive game we've played this year."

Providence's Adam Taylor, who led his team with 17 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to finish the quarter and narrowed Conant's lead to 38-31.

The Cougars used a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter and expand the lead to 48-31 with 5:47 left in the game.

Ellis scored two baskets which were sandwiched in between 3s from Wachal and Kolev.

"I think were starting to turn the corner as a team," said Ellis. "We worked well today and found the open shooter. We started working better on defense in the second quarter."

"Mittal brings a toughness to the game and he's helping Ellis become a better player," said Maley.

Ellis grabbed 6 rebounds and Mittal 5. Wachal had 4 assists. Point guard Dominic Benigni helped keep the train on the track running the offense and providing 4 assists.

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