Lyons Township’s boys basketball team keeps saving its best efforts for the second half.
The Lions dominated the third quarter to pull away from Downers Grove South for a 69-59 non-conference win Wednesday. Lyons has won nine games in a row after opening the season 4-8.
“We haven’t really changed anything since we started,” Lyons coach Conte Stamas said.
“We’re just playing well and now we have confidence. This is the time of the year that you want that.”
Lyons (13-8), which led 30-29 at halftime, opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run and went on to outscore the Mustangs (13-8) 20-10 in the quarter.
Jim Maley led Lyons with 26 points and drew the second-half assignment of guarding Downers South’s Josh Panozzo, who scored only four of his 16 points after halftime.
Cortez Forte added 18 points for Lyons.
Hillcrest 77, Kankakee 45: Shelby Jordan scored 14 points and had 10 assists as the No. 13 Hawks (18-5) rolled. Marcus Spears led Kankakee (14-8) with 11 points.
Amundsen 80, Sullivan 57: Lavon Walker, Donald Arrington and Terry Weathers each scored 15 for the Vikings (15-11, 9-3) in the Public Blue North.
Dunbar 64, Tilden 52: Aaron Spears had 34 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Mighty Men (16-7, 12-2) to a come-from-behind Public Red Central win.
Gage Park 71, King 67 (OT): DeAndre Haney had 24 points and seven steals as the Owls (3-23, 1-10) earned their first Public Red Central win. Reggie Daniels hit a three-pointer with one minute left in overtime to give Gage Park the lead for good.
Homewood-Flossmoor 67, Romeoville 41: Troy Watson scored 22 points to lead the Vikings (16-8) to a non-conference win.
Hubbard 70, DuSable 64: Othyus Jeffers had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Reginald Bates also scored 20 as the Greyhounds (15-11, 7-5) won in the Public Red Central.
Lane Tech 61, Lincoln Park 45: Douglas Johnson scored 23 points and Curtis Collins added 16 as Lane (7-16, 2-9) picked up a Public Red North victory.
North Shore Country Day 47, Lake Forest Academy 43: Brian Jessen scored 15 points for the Raiders (12-11, 7-5) in the Independent School League.
Prosser 93, Mather 84: Michael Nelson scored seven of his 23 points in the final two minutes as the Falcons (15-10, 8-3) held on in the Public Red North. T.J. Collins also scored 23 points for Prosser and Jason Key added 21.
Schurz 66, Lake View 40: Brothers Joey and Keith Miller scored 22 and 19 points, respectively, to lead the Bulldogs (13-18, 10-1) to a Public Blue North win.
Von Steuben 73, Steinmetz 42: Temi Soyebo scored 19 points and Brandon Davis added 18 as the Panthers (15-7, 10-1) clinched the Public Red North title for the second straight year.
“I’m very happy with winning the league,” Von Steuben coach Vince Carter said. “It’s always a plus.”
Andrais Thornton scored 18 points to lead Steinmetz (10-15, 7-5).
Girls basketball
Marshall 86, Mather 29: Lashonda Grant had 12 points as the No. 7 Commandos (26-1) won easily in the Public League playoffs. Tiffany Sardin and Jacquay Holmes both added 11 for Marshall, while Darcy Leslie led Mather with 13.
Simeon 66, Dunbar 41: Erin Bridges had 15 points and five steals as the Wolverines (20-9) advanced in the Public League playoffs. Nakia Barnes added 14 points and Jasmine Robinson had 13 points for Simeon.
