Matty Smith has an ulterior motive for piling up assists.
“Tyler (Hankins) is a big part of our team, we go as he goes,” Smith said. “He gets it going inside and that makes my life infinitely easier from outside or driving down the lane.”
The two juniors and Logan Atkins off the bench each scored 17 points as South Elgin toppled host Waubonsie Valley 68-48 in Friday’s Upstate Eight Valley game.
The Storm (8-13, 3-5) swept the series and gained its second win in the last seven games. Waubonsie Valley (7-13, 2-8) was hoping for a fifth win in eight games and a chance to avenge a 48-47 December loss to the Storm.
Waiting for the preliminary game to finish, South Elgin coach Matt Petersen had a checklist as to what was needed to beat Waubonsie. He was partially pleased at halftime and still concerned with his team up 32-17.
“No. 1 goal was to limit (Chris Karkazis) and he had zero points in the first half,” Petersen said. “We also wanted to take limit their three-pointers and they had two. I told them that was all because they adhered to their responsibilities.
“My next concern was holding the lead, it’s been a big problem. We played Metea and were up 12-11 in the first quarter and finished it down 25-12.”
Waubonsie Valley had a Logan Yanisch three-pointer for a lead of 10-7 and was up 12-10 with 31 seconds left in the first quarter. A Smith free throw and a steal and pull-up jumper by Damien Young put South Elgin up 13-12 and ignited an 11-0 Storm surge.
The Warriors went scoreless until 3:36 remained prior to intermission when Jack Connolly hit a pair of free throws.
Waubonsie was outscored 19-5 in the second quarter.
“This win really started and ended with defense,” Smith said. “We kept the pressure on them and continually built our lead.”
The 6-10 Hankins also pointed to good health.
“The first time with them we were a little injured. With everyone healthy, we’re getting our chemistry back,” Hankins said.
“I’m thankful my teammates were able to feed me when I was open,” Atkins said. “I felt I was in rhythm whether shooting a three or a jumper.”
More Top Picks Stent Vs Bypass Surgery How Doctors Decide
South Elgin’s Justin Howard drained a three to give the Storm its largest lead of 21 (48-27) in the third quarter and the final eight minutes was simply a matter of back-and-forth runs.
In contrast to the first meeting between the two when Mark Rullo exploded for 23 and Yanisch added 10, the Warriors had no one in double figures. Luke Gregorio came off the bench to tally nine off a trio of three-pointers while Connolly added eight. Yanisch and Karkazis each had seven while Rullo finished with five points.
“They did a good job of guarding the ball hard and getting into the passing lanes,” Waubonsie Valley coach Chaz Taft said. “Give them credit for how they challenged us and how their pressure took us out of our game.”