If Oak Park and Proviso East eventually meet in the York sectional final, both may look back to Wednesday’s opening-round games as a nice respite.
Neither team had to exert much energy in posting easy victories. No. 10 Oak Park handled Willowbrook’s slowdown tactics to win 42-13 and No. 5 Proviso East blew out Riverside-Brookfield 108-26.
In Oak Park’s victory, Willowbrook (1-24) attempted only one first-half shot-Mike Lichtfuss nailed a three-pointer with 7:35 remaining in the second quarter. But Oak Park (23-3) foiled the slowdown tactics by forcing seven first-half turnovers and jumping to a 6-0 lead after one quarter. Oak Park, which enjoyed a 17-7 rebounding advantage, forced Willowbrook into 1-for-16 shooting in the second half. Ramone Jones and Mike Amrhein led the Huskies with eight points apiece.
“We got to rest,” said Oak Park coach Al Allen when asked the benefit of the victory. “Our best outside shooter (John Lefevour) is hurt and will be back Friday.”
Proviso East (22-4) will be back Friday, too, jumping to a 20-0 lead and forcing 38 turnovers in its cakewalk. Kevin Jones (18 points), Kenny Davis (17), Leon Tubbs (12), Corliss Ashford and Ray Gay (11 apiece) hit double figures for the Pirates, which held R-B (4-21) scoreless for 9 minutes 7 seconds in the first half. Proviso led 54-5 at halftime.
“I was pleased with the intensity and the unselfishness,” said Proviso East coach Bill Hitt. “I wanted to make sure the starters got a good workout. Friday’s game will be much tougher.”
In other action, Nazareth Academy’s Private School League champions (22-4) rolled to a 25-20 halftime lead and held off upset-minded St. Patrick 56-52 with Sven Sherrod (17 points), Baxter Swilley (15) and Ron DeShazer (13) leading the scoring. Kevin Buford managed 10 points for St. Patrick.
St. Joseph (16-9) advanced with a 41-36 victory at Lyons (10-15). Rodney Horton led St. Joseph, which plays at Oak Park Friday, with 16 points.
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