Wheaton Academy coach Andy Euler didn’t think it was a big deal. He has, after all, seen runs such as the devastating 16-2 spurt his team went on in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s game many times this season.
Rest assured, it was a big deal to sixth-seeded Driscoll.
Third-seeded Wheaton Academy used the charge to break open a 20-20 en route to a 61-54 victory in the first round of the Timothy Christian Class A regional.
“That’s kind of the way we do things,” said Euler, whose team will next play second-seeded Lisle on Thursday. “We’ve got good shooters who can get hot, so we can do that. I’ve seen better, but I’ll take it.”
The Warriors (20-7) ran off 11 straight in the second quarter behind consecutive three-pointers by Josh Snyder, and D.J. Jackson scored all seven of his points in the quarter to send Wheaton into halftime leading 36-22.
“They really converted on our miscues,” said Driscoll coach Nick Latorre, whose team finished 11-15. “That was huge.”
Wheaton’s Jon Nielson scored a game-high 23 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter when Driscoll began to make a run.
The Highlanders cut the lead to 51-46 before Nielson answered with four straight points as the senior guard scored his team’s first nine points of the quarter.
Center Jim Fortosis added 14 points and Donny Cislo contributed 12 rebounds for Wheaton. Victor Arlis paced Driscoll with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Art Becker, the Highlanders’ top scorer, scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter and added 13 boards.
In the other first-round game, Joe Cortez scored all of his game-high 16 points in the second half to help second-seeded Lisle hold off Timothy Christian 46-37.
The Lions (24-2) led 17-13 at halftime after they scored five points in the second quarter, while failing to convert a field goal. Cortez, a 6-foot-3-inch junior guard, asserted himself offensively in the third quarter, scoring eight straight points. Terence Parker added 15 points for Lisle.
“In the first half I tried to get everybody involved,” said Cortez. “But I figured if nobody was hitting then I would have to take it myself.”
Timothy Christian (10-16) was playing without its top player, Joshua Biesboer, who was sick. Kevin VanderWal led the Trojans with 16 points, including 11 of his team’s 13 first-half points.
Sean Duncan.
At Bishop McNamara: John Gilbert scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Jay Sikma contributed 13 points as Momence (20-6) rolled past Illinois Lutheran 73-39. Phil French’s 12 points led Illinois Lutheran (14-8). . . . Bill Suppes totaled 20 points and 13 rebounds as Beecher (10-17) eliminated Peotone 52-41. Jeff Brashares and Brent Laffey had nine points apiece for Peotone (14-11).
At Evergreen Park: Russ Kooyenga scored 13 points as Chicago Christian eliminated Universal 78-52. . . . Eric Kelly had 33 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists as Morgan Park Academy (17-11) blew out Luther East 96-31.
At Hales Franciscan: Maurice McCants scored 14 points and Monte Williams corralled 11 rebounds as St. Francis de Sales pounded University High 63-31.
At Luther North: Jimmy Franklin’s 23 points were just enough for Luther North (11-14) in a 50-47 victory over North Shore Country Day. Brendan Kolton had 21 points to lead North Shore (9-13).
At Mooseheart: Clinton Perrot scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Plano downed Mooseheart 43-42.
