The fast and the furious
Waubonsie rides 21-0 run to title; MVP Adams lifts ACC past Marmion
Former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson would have loved the third quarter Waubonsie Valley put together Saturday night in the title game of the Warrior Classic against Hinsdale Central.
For the visiting Red Devils, it was truly eight minutes of hell.
The hosts closed it with 21 straight points and claimed a 24-2 edge in the quarter. It pushed a 21-20 halftime lead to a comfy 45-22 advantage.
"For whatever reason, we have had a lot of good third quarters," said Waubonsie Valley coach Steve Weemer, whose team then cruised to a 62-50 decision.
"Our defense got us going and we made some easy layups and just built off that. It was a great team win."
All-tournament team selection Jelani Johnson led the way with 16 points. The 6-foot-3 junior also had eight rebounds and two steals.
"Jelani rebounds well and hits open shots. He had a good game. I was just trying to keep up with him," said senior guard Justin Peaster, who added 15 points for the Warriors (13-3).
Josh Daniels added 10 points. Kyle Obendorf also made all-tourney.
"They couldn't miss," said Hinsdale coach Ed Lynch said of the decisive third. "They made shots. Everything they threw up went in."
It was the opposite of the first half, when the Warriors committed five turnovers in the first quarter and seven more in the second.
"We got a little stupid there," said Weemer.
The Cadets took advantage of foul trouble that hampered 6-5 Nick Czaja and 6-4 Mike Adams (fouled out with 4:50 left) and led by as many as seven points.
Mark Adams hit a 3-pointer to tie the game 41-all, fed Czaja for a runner in the lane for a 43-41 lead and then followed with an 18-footer to make it 45-41.
Tyler Smith's 3-pointer made it close and the Cadets got the ball back after Adams was whistled for a charge. Marmion held for one shot, but all-tourney selection Sean Fichtel's runner down the lane went awry.
Marmion (6-5) got the rebound, but Adams came up with a steal and sealed it with two free throws.
"It's great when he steps up and takes over," Czaja said of Adams. "I just want to jump on the bandwagon and follow him."
Marmion's Rashon Burno said, "I don't believe in moral victories but I think our kids gained some confidence. One call and it could have gone either way. It's always big to win against your crosstown rival. They've got one up on us but we face them again (Friday at home)."
Oswego East 48, Naperville North 40 - The Wolves got 16 points each from all-tourney selection Lionell Holmes and Zach Pearson in the fifth-place game.
Warrior Christmas Classic
