The Riverside Brookfield girls basketball team moved one step closer to securing its fourth consecutive Suburban Prairie (East) Conference title by edging Fenton 65-56 in overtime on Friday night.
The Bulldogs (16-3, 7-0) face Fenton again on Feb. 10 in what could very well be for sole possession of the title. RB needs to defeat Ridgewood and Elmwood Park to clinch a tie.
A sluggish start from both teams saw the Bulldogs trailing 23-22 by halftime. Three-pointers rained in the third quarter with Fenton’s Christy Seimers nailing five, and RB’s Maggie McCloskey answering with three. The Bulldogs stayed at Fenton’s heals going into the fourth down 42-41.
Trailing 53-51 with seconds left in regulation, RB’s Regan Riley deflected a Fenton pass and Kristen Zeleny picked up the steal. Soon after, the ball was in the hands of Erin Pfieffer, who was fouled on a layup. Pfieffer, who finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, missed the potential game-winner, but took over in the extra period. The senior center put the Bulldogs up 59-55 off a baseline jumper as RB held on for the win.
Maggie McCloskey added 17 points, while Katelyn McCloskey chipped in 11.
The Bulldogs host Ridgewood Thursday (7 p.m.) and travel to Lake Zurich to take on Schaumburg and Barrington in a double-header on Saturday (9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.).
Six champs for LT at tourney
The Lyons Township wrestling team won six weight classes to take first place at the Oak Park tournament on Saturday.
The Lions were led by Phil Lukanich (119-pound weight class), Ryan Lukanich (125), Mike Peysakhouich (130), Vince Castillo (135), Casey McMurray (160), and Steve Cincotti (171).
Peysakhouich pinned Argo’s Kevin O’Brien in a time of 41 seconds. Ryan Lukanich pinned Noah Moreno of Argo in 3:19.
The Lions garnered a team score of 248, while Oak Park took second with 205.
Lions go 1-1 in weekend play
The Lyons Township boys basketball team bounced back from a loss to York and defeated Downers Grove North 61-44 on Saturday.
Mike Scavuzzo gave the Lions (10-7, 2-4) a jump on their West Suburban (Silver) Conference foes by scoring 15 of his 20 points in the first half.
Nick Pavilonis added 17 points to go along with his eight rebounds.
The win came on the heals of a 54-47 loss to York the night before. Up by three late in the fourth, Lyons succumbed to an 11-2 York run.
Scavuzzo and Pavilonis each scored 14 points apiece to lead LT.
More classes in session
A high school sports team’s chances of winning a State title will get better beginning in 2007, as the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced that its current two-class system will expand to four in several sports.
According to a release by the IHSA, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball will go from the current two-class format to four. Boys and girls track, boys golf and likely boys and girls cross-country will grow to three classes.
The decision to expand was made after the association surveyed its 752 members. A majority of those surveyed responded positive to a proposal to try and balance out the competition, according to the IHSA.
The current eight-class system in football will not be affected.
Beginning in ’07, due to its potential enrollment, most sports at Riverside Brookfield will fall into Class 3A of the new system. The enrollment boundary for non-private schools in Class 3A is 715-1,628. Lyons Township will likely fall into 4A.
Critics of the four-class system worry it will dilute the excitement of winning a State championship. Supporters feel it gives schools a shot at winning a title that might not otherwise have an opportunity, due to lower enrollment.
