Glenbard South grabs Upstate Eight opener at Larkin
Glenbard South senior Nick Plaso said one of his team's mottos this year is, "Go get the ball."
That's exactly what the Raiders did to open Upstate Eight Conference play Tuesday with a 59-56 win at Larkin.
Glenbard South (3-1, 1-0), whose only loss came by 3 points to Glenbard West, outrebounded Larkin 44-28, an advantage the Raiders needed to offset 24 turnovers including 9 in the fourth quarter when the Royals just about overcame a 15-point deficit.
"We did come up big on the boards," Glenbard South coach Wade Hardtke said. "That was going to be a key for us tonight. They are so quick and so athletic that the rebounding side was one we had to swing in our favor."
Two of the biggest rebounds came in the final minute when Glenbard South twice missed a free throw only to get the offensive board and keep possession.
Plaso pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds leading a balanced team effort that included Brandon Malone's 8, Cam Goodrum and Cade Hardtke with 6 and Jacob Folkerts 5.
"As a team we always work on keeping the ball alive," Plaso said. "It was a good team win. I have to give all the credit to Larkin, they really picked it up in the second half. It feels good to come out of here with a win."
Larkin (0-5, 0-1), who played four sophomores and a freshman in its first seven, led briefly to start the game. Plaso's conventional 3-point play put the Raiders up 8-5, and they never trailed again.
Neither team shot the ball well in the first half, but Glenbard South's 32.1% from the field outdid Larkin's ice-cold 18.8% as the Raiders built a 27-17 halftime advantage.
They still led 42-31 after three quarters and 51-41 midway through the fourth when sophomores Fernando Perez Jr. and Demari Wheeler-Thomas nearly brought the Royals all the way back. Perez scored 9 points in a 12-4 run, highlighting it with a spectacular block to deny a breakaway layup on one end, then rattling in a 3-pointer on the other to bring Larkin within 55-53 with a minute to go.
Wheeler-Thomas missed a potential game-tying 17-foot jumper, and Cade Hardtke converted 3 of 4 free throws for a 5-point lead. Wheeler-Thomas raced down the floor and scored while being fouled for a 3-point play to make it 58-56 with 8.4 seconds left.
Malone split two free throws with 5.4 remaining giving Larkin another chance to tie. Wheeler-Thomas came up short on a 3-pointer from the wing as time expired.
"Our defensive intensity gave us good offensive intensity," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said of the fourth quarter charge. "With a new team they have to learn that everything we do starts on the defensive end."
Malone and Plaso hit double figures for the Raiders with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
"Record-wise I am pleased with our start," Wade Hardtke said. "We ended up stealing one on the road. As long as we are able to learn while we are coming out on the good side that's a good thing."
Perez led Larkin with 24 points and 8 rebounds, Wheeler-Thomas scored 19, but nobody else had more than 4 points.
"Frustrated at the loss, not at the score, but doing some of the little things we have to get better at," Carter said. "We'll get there. But there has to be a little better sense of urgency to get there."