In the fall, Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Hunter Ferguson was the leading scorer for the boys soccer team, which shared its first Metro Suburban Conference title since 2015.
As a starter for the boys basketball team, MSC titles arrive from a different perspective.
“For soccer, winning our conference championship is bigger because I know we can win more for basketball,” Ferguson said. “For basketball, RB kind of dominates our conference. We reign supreme every year.”
The Bulldogs (24-5) celebrated their six seniors at their Feb. 10 on Senior Night and improved to 11-0 in the MSC Blue by beating Timothy Christian 58-41 after clinching the title outright with a 69-57 victory at Wheaton Academy on Feb. 7. The Bulldogs also beat Oak Lawn 69-66 on Feb. 11.
Since 2002, the Bulldogs have won conference titles all but twice.
This year’s team has six seniors – starters Arius Alijosius, Marques Turner and Ferguson, Rex Dockendorf, Aidan Hernandez and Moses Soto.
“It’s our first goal of every season, to win conference, but we’re not done yet,” Ferguson said. “We’re trying to win a regional, get a sectional, get a state championship. It’s a good goal, but it’s not going to stop us from working hard.”
The Bulldogs led Wheaton Academy 49-46 after three quarters before pulling away behind junior Stefan Cicic (26 points, 11 rebounds), junior Will Gonzalez (10 points), Alijosius (17 points with 2 threes, 9 rebounds) and Ferguson (6 rebounds).
“Wheaton Academy is a good team. We knew we wanted to go out there and take care of business and the guys did that,” RBHS coach Mike Reingruber said.
On Feb. 10, Alijosius had 24 points with five threes and nine rebounds. Cicic (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Gonzalez (5 points, 4 assists) also contributed.
Perhaps the loudest cheers came when Dockendorf and Soto nailed 3-pointers. The five four-year program seniors played together for the final 2:17. Alijosius transferred from Stagg before last season.
“Usually we get a good crowd but today the sixth man showed up early, and it was fun walking out and hearing your name called. A good way to end it off,” Dockendorf said.
Dockendorf also is a two-time conference champion with the baseball team. Alijosius said he quickly sensed the Bulldogs’ basketball winning mentality upon arriving.
“It’s a whole new mindset, especially here because we win every year and everyone wants to win. Everyone’s going to go after it every day at practice,” Alijosius said.
Alijosius (16 points with 5 threes, 5 rebounds), Gonzalez (15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), Cicic (15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks) and Dockendorf (11 points with 3 threes, 5 assists) scored in double figures against Oak Lawn on Feb. 11. Junior Steven Brown added nine points.
