Lyons Township and Downers Grove South’s burgeoning rivalry took center stage at the 37th Annual Jack Tosh Holiday Classic hosted by York. Avenging a pair of losses to LT – last season at the United Center and at home a few weeks ago – the Mustangs pulled off a 56-55 overtime win against the Lions in the Tosh championship game last week.
The third meeting certainly wasn’t the charm for the Lions, who fell just short of defending their Tosh Holiday Classic crown. In this year’s title tilt, Downers Grove South guard Jamall Millison was the hero scoring four of his nine points in overtime. LT guard Nick Zeisloft knocked down a three-pointer to put the Lions up 55-53 with 21 seconds left, but Millison responded with two free throws and a game-winning bucket in the closing seconds of the extra session.
Tournament MVP Jerron Wilburt led the Mustangs with 22 points, while Zeisloft paced LT with 18 points.
“We played four pretty good games against very good opponents,” LT coach Tom Sloan said. “It’s disappointing to lose the last one, but the kids are playing well right now.”
In fact, the Lions are off to another promising start reminiscent of last year’s 26-2 team.
“We have a lot of guys playing new roles and feeling their way into our rotation,” LT center Nick Burt said. “I think we’re actually improving on a game-to-game basis even more this year compared to last season.”
Lyons (10-2) certainly entered the championship game with plenty of momentum courtesy of three impressive victories over Brother Rice, St. Ignatius and Conant. The Lions rolled to a surprisingly lopsided 86-62 win over Brother Rice in the semifinals. Zeisloft scored a career-high 30 points, including 13 in the first quarter.
“We knew Brother Rice wouldn’t quit,” Sloan said. “We emphasized playing all the way to the final gun. In the second half, our defensive intensity helped get our offense going.”
Leading 50-43 with 5:05 left in the third quarter, the Lions put the game away with a 21-0 run to assume a commanding 71-43 lead. Eric Powers (15 points) and Burt (13 points, 9 rebounds) also paced LT, which had eight different players score.
“We always share the basketball,” Zeisloft said. “We’re always in the flow trying to get the best shot possible for any player.”
In second round action, the Lions nipped St. Ignatius 62-58. Trailing for three quarters, LT outscored the Wolfpack 18-11 in the fourth quarter to earn the comeback victory.
The Lions flirted with the century mark in their tourney opener, cruising to a 96-70 win over Conant. Lyons made 43-of-62 shots (69 percent) and won the rebounding battle 36-18 against the overmatched Cougars. Five players scored in double figures, led by Fiedler’s 22 points.