Any team in the SICA East will confirm that Thornridge is one of the toughest places in which to win for a visitor. No. 16 Bloom Township found that out all over again Friday night in Dolton.
Thornridge (17-9, 5-5) rode a first-half run and held on for a 53-51 victory over the Trojans. The win gives the Falcons a head of steam entering Tuesday’s Class AA regional opener against Andrew while also giving them a share of second place with Shepard and Bloom.
“We’ve been playing well lately,” Thornridge coach Mike Flaherty said. “Our only loss this month and at home in the conference was to [No. 1] Thornwood.”
The Falcons, led by Keith Archie (13 points, 10 rebounds), went on a 10-2 run in the first half for an 18-11 lead and never looked back despite several opportunities for the Trojans to either tie or take the lead.
“We made some real bad decisions [Friday night], and in a two-point game that will catch up with you,” Bloom coach Gary Meyer said of his team, which was within 51-48 in the last minute but committed a pair of costly turnovers.
Bloom’s Antonio Cool (12 points) hit a three-pointer with :00.9 left for the final score after the Falcons had hit 2-of-4 free throws in the final 30 seconds. Ronnie McMillian led Bloom (19-7, 5-5) with 14 points and Joe Chapman had 12.
Bill Harrison.
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Joliet Catholic.
1. Thornwood: Melvin Buckley scored 24 points and Steve Sawyers added 16 as Thornwood (25-1, 10-0) defeated Homewood-Flossmoor 73-55 in the SICA East. Eddy Curry was held to 13 points and six rebounds before fouling out.
Homewood-Flossmoor led for much of the first half before Buckley hit a three-pointer with 1:33 left in the second quarter.
“They can’t keep our whole team down,” Curry said. “When I get in foul trouble or the other team tries to stop me, no way does it mean it’s the end of the game for Thornwood.”
Next: Tuesday at home vs. Oak Forest or Marist.
3. Joliet: Brandon Shoemaker scored 19 points and Roger Powell put in 16 as the Steelmen (22-4, 9-1) downed Sandburg 72-58 in SICA West play. Joliet led 54-34 after three quarters and held off a late Sandburg charge, which started with a 12-0 run. Cory Cummens led Sandburg (16-7, 5-5) with 27 points.
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Morris.
4. Lincoln-Way: Adam Ferrari scored 16 points and Kevin Menard added 15 as the Knights (21-4, 9-1) blew out Stagg 58-34 in the SICA West. Jon Womack had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Stagg (10-17, 1-9).
Next: Tuesday at home vs. Rich East or Bradley-Bourbonnais.
5. West Aurora: Jamaal Thompson scored 26 points and made a layup with 25 seconds left as the Blackhawks (22-3, 12-2) rallied from a 20-point deficit to a 54-53 victory over Naperville Central. The victory gives West Aurora the DuPage Valley title. The Blackhawks fell behind 22-2 early in the second quarter before Thompson led his team back.
“It’s not my saying, but big-time players step up in big-time situations,” West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said of Thompson. “Obviously, he did.”
Thompson hit a jumper to put West Aurora up 52-51 with just under a minute to play. Michael Wilson responded with a 15-foot jumper to put Naperville back up one with 35 seconds left.
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Ryan Paradise had 13 points and six steals and Wilson finished with 12 points to lead Naperville Central (19-7, 11-3).
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Lemont.
6. Downers Grove North: In the West Suburban Silver, Downers North (24-2, 11-1) prevailed over Hinsdale Central 65-49 as Eric Allen scored 19 points and Kyle Kleckner added 17 points and six rebounds. Allen and Kleckner hit consecutive three-pointers in the third quarter to break the game open. G.J. King’s 13 points led Hinsdale (14-11, 5-7).
Next: Tuesday at home vs. IMSA or Hinsdale South.
7. Proviso East: The Pirates (22-3, 12-0) knocked off Willowbrook 60-46 in the West Suburban Gold as Daniel Brown had 18 points, seven assists and four steals. Arthur Talley added 16 points for Proviso.
Next: Tuesday at home vs. St. Joseph or Oak Park.
8. Shepard: Mike Smith scored 19 points and Mike Hall 16 as the Astros (21-4, 6-4) downed Thornton 60-52 in the SICA East. Hall had 14 in the fourth quarter as Shepard outscored Thornton 20-13 to break open the game.
“Mike [Hall] really played great for us in the fourth quarter,” Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello said. “He really dominated off the board and made almost every one of this shots.”
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Oak Lawn.
12. Hillcrest: Armon Gates scored 27 points as Hillcrest (22-4, 11-1) defeated Thornton Fractional South 84-71 to share the SICA Central title. Chris Dryer added 18 points and six rebounds for the Hawks, which won their 13th straight conference title.
Next: Tuesday at home vs. Providence.
13. Evanston: Stacey Morange scored 20 points and hit a three-pointer to ignite a 19-2 third-quarter run as the Wildkits (21-4, 10-0) defeated Maine South 78-62 in the Central Suburban South. Scott Horne contributed 13 points and Kenny Smith 11 for Evanston. John Vigna had 17 points for Maine South (16-9, 5-5).
Next: Tuesday at home vs. Ridgewood or Elmwood Park.
14. Brother Rice: Rick Harrigan had 22 points and was 6-of-10 from three-point range as the Crusaders (21-5, 12-1) dumped Providence 65-44 in the Catholic League. John Sexton added 12 points and seven assists for Rice. Michael Thompson led Providence (9-16, 3-10) with 14 points.
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Tinley Park.
19. Lyons Township: Jim Maley scored 19 points and Cortez Forte added 16 as the Lions (22-3, 10-2) downed Glenbard West 60-50 in the West Suburban Silver. Ryan Edwards and Dan Doyle had 11 points apiece for Glenbard (13-11, 4-8).
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Riverside-Brookfield.
20. Loyola: Colin Falls had 21 points as the Ramblers (20-4, 11-2) pulled away from Mt. Carmel 64-37 in Catholic League play. Loyola outscored Mt. Carmel 28-8 in the second half.
Next: Tuesday at home vs. Niles West.