Lights Out Shooting Lifts Broncos
With last week's loss to Fremd still fresh on Barrington's mind, the Broncos boys basketball team was determined not to let another conference win slip through their grasp.
Shooting 81 percent for the entire second half, the Broncos thwarted a previously surging Saxons squad, 52-37, at home on Friday night to improve to 14-4 on the season.
"We knew they (Schaumburg) were a dangerous and talented team," said Broncos head coach Bryan Tucker. "In their last two conference games (wins against Fremd and Palatine), they beat the teams who had beaten us … they certainly had our attention all week in practice and we knew we would not be playing the same team we played back on December 1st."
In that contest, the Broncos led 26-19 at the half and then used a 10-1 spurt to end the third quarter to lead by 16 (42-26) and cruise to a 53-30 victory.
Additionally, Barrington held the Saxons to just 37 percent shooting from the field and Schaumburg was just 7-for-16 from the free throw line.
This contest almost mirrored that December matchup to a tee.
Trailing 7-4 in the first quarter, the Saxons closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run that was capped off by a Heze Trotter (11 points) floater with 58 seconds left to lead 9-7 after one.
Broncos guard Anthony Spann, who was held to just 2 points in the first meeting against Schaumburg, quickly knotted the game at 9-9 when his jumper hit the back of the iron and dropped straight through. Spann had 14 points on the evening.
"I got to give all the credit to my teammates," said Spann. "They were screening for me and opening up the floor, keeping it spaced, and that gave me opportunities all night to attack and drive."
Points were at a premium in the first half, as both teams combined to shoot an icy 8-for-39 from the field. However, the Broncos were much better from the charity stripe (9-for-12) than the Saxons (4-for-9) and they led 17-15 at the break.
Then came the third quarter blur.
The stanza started off with a Jake Parsons (15 points) steal on Schaumburg's opening possession. Parsons and Spann each scored 5 points in a 10-0 run to start the third as Barrington led 27-15 with 3:59 remaining.
"We upped our energy level in the second half and played for each other out there," said Parsons. "We were determined to fight all four quarters and in the second half; it seemed like we started getting layups at will so this was a great win for us."
On the defensive end, the Broncos continued to frustrate the Saxons, as Schaumburg shot just 2-of-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from the charity stripe in the third.
"They did a great job tonight. They were physical, and their quickness and ability to make shots all added up tonight. They're a tough team," said Schaumburg head coach Wade Heisler.
The Broncos closed the quarter in almost the same fashion as they did on December 1st, this time with a 9-1 spurt that included a big three-pointer by Jason Boock with 1:00 to go, as Barrington again led by 36-20 going into the final stanza. Boock led all scorers with 16 points, 14 of them coming in the decisive second half.
The torrid shooting continued for the Broncos in the fourth as they went 7-for-9 from the field and finished 17-for-32 for the game.
Meanwhile, the Broncos' suffocating defense held the Saxons to just 29 percent shooting for the game. The Saxons also had another disappointing night at the line, this time going 7-for-17 for the contest.
"Coach told us before the game to do the little things, and it starts out with defense and boxing out, push the ball in transition," said Spann. "We came out with the W tonight because we were able to do those things."
