Story posted Friday, November 27, 2009
South Slams Sullivan; Warriors Off To Quick 2-0 Start
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal Sports
What a rollercoaster season start it's been for coach Tony Lavorato, Jr. and the Maine South boys basketball Hawks.
The Hawks started the pre-season with all sorts of high expectations with their entire starting five back from a winning team last year.
Then came the shock of center Kevin Schlitter's season-ending knee injury and surgery.
Finally, the Hawks took the floor for the first time this season Tuesday night at Maine West's Thanksgiving tournament. The opponent was Chicago Sullivan.
The Hawks scored probably their most one-sided victory in history with an incredible 94-16 win.
"It was a very nice start," said Lavorato in a big understatement. From the opening tip, the Hawk regulars and reserves ran the floor, nailed shots, rebounded, shared the ball, and played smothering defense at a very high level. It was 34-8 after one quarter, 50-10 at the half, and 72-13 after three quarters.
"We tried to hold it down in the second half, and we managed to keep it under 100," Lavorato said. "But the reserves just kept executing, they wanted to prove to me and themselves that they could play well. No matter what combination of guys I rotated in, the score just kept mounting."
Justin Wasik and P.,J. Killean had 15 and 12 points, respectively, by the middle of the second quarter. All 14 Hawks scored at least 5 points each.
At 7:30 p.m. today (Friday), the best game of this Warrior tournament will be played when the Hawks meet West. Sullivan will play Wheeling in the 6 p.m. game.
West is off to a 2-0 start this season for the first time in recent years. The Warriors again spread the scoring around in a 56-43 win over Chicago Northside. Alex Samuelson led West with 15 points, while Paul Solka and Odera Eneogwe contributed 12 each.
The West tourney ends Saturday with Northside Prep opposing Maine South at 6 p.m., and Maine West facing Wheeling at 7:30.
In other tournament games involving area teams this week:
* Leyden bowed to host Wheaton Academy, 64-50, in the Eagles' season opener. Brandon Stinson scored 12 points for Leyden, and Mike Woolf added 10.
* Niles West and St. Viator had the night off Tuesday in their own holiday tournaments in Skokie and Arlington Hts., respectively. In its season opener and Bob Williams' debut as head coach, Niles West defeated Urban Academy of Chicago, 68-43.
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