Indians Follow Similar Script to Beat Phoenix Again

Lemont's boys basketball team faced the difficult assignment of trying to beat the same team twice within the first eight days of the season.

In Tuesday's non-conference game with Lincoln-Way North in Lemont, the Indians used a similar formula to what worked in last Monday's opener for both squads.

After jumping out to a big advantage in the early going, Lemont held off a spirited comeback by North to eventually capture a 61-49 victory.

Last Monday at North's Thanksgving Tournament, the Indians led by as much as 21 points and saw its lead dwindle to four before posting a 65-58 win. 

The Indians (3-2) led 22-7 after one quarter in Tuesday's rematch, but saw the Phoenix (2-3) pull to within 46-44 early in the final period.

However, Lemont used a 15-2 run to break things open, with junior Joe O'Brien scoring nine of his team-high 16 points during that stretch.

"It got tight in the third and fourth quarters and, fortunately, we did some good things by taking care of the ball better and making our free throws," Lemont coach Rick Runaas said. "I thought Joe O'Brien played very well, especially in the fourth quarter, when he made some big plays and big free throws and handled the ball very well.

"Our kids were feeling good about how they played in North's tournament and were looking forward to playing a home game, and I think that was part of the reason for how we started."

Lemont made eight of 12 shots from the floor, including four three-pointers, to build up a 15-point advantage in the first eight minutes. Evan Bridwell led the Indians during that span, hitting two threes and scoring eight of his 13 first-half points. The senior finished with 15 points.

North used a 7-0 run to close out the third quarter trailing by a 45-41 score, with Brandon Collins (17 points) contributing six of those points.

But the Phoenix hurt their cause by not converting at the free throw line. They were 5-of-10 in the third quarter and just 3-of 8 in the fourth.

"Free throws have really been our Achilles' heel against Lemont," North coach John Terry said. "In the first game, they shot 37 and made most of them and today we couldn't hit a free throw.

"If we hit some of our free throws, we could have been in the lead and I could have stayed in our 1-3-1 defense. Instead, I had to pull the 1-3-1 since they had the lead and were holding the ball.

"And, just like the first game, we dug ourselves into a big hole. We have to clean up things like that if we want to be a competitive team. But give Lemont credit since they handled the ball extremely well."

The Phoenix got as close as 46-44 with 6:29 left following a layup by Jake Harper, but Bridwell hit a free throw before O'Brien scored seven straight points.

Lemont, which made 13 of its 19 second-half free throw attempts, also received 12 points from Paulus Otruskevicius and eight points from Germantas Valionis.

North, which had won its last two games, also picked up nine points apiece from Daryle Morgan, Trey Lewis and Riley Pakosz (7 rebounds).