Riverside Brookfield High School sophomore Cam Mercer and junior Danny Loftus made quite a guard tandem for the sophomore boys basketball team last season. While they continue showing offensive progress in their first varsity season, Mercer also has been distinguishing himself defensively.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” he said. “I like playing defense more than offense because I think you can show yourself way more on the court, just show how much hard work you’ve been putting in behind the doors when the cameras are not on.”
The Bulldogs (9-1) and Lyons Township (2-6) will get great opportunities to showcase their progress at York’s 32-team Jack Tosh Holiday Classic Dec. 26-30.
The Bulldogs open with Minooka. The Lions start with St. Patrick.
RBHS was a top-six finisher in 2022 and, with just two key returnees, is among the top eight seeds with Bolingbrook, Downers Grove North, Glenbrook South, Metamora, Rolling Meadows, St. Patrick and York.
The Lions lost to Rolling Meadows in last year’s championship game but graduated their entire starting lineup.
One new Classic feature is a 35-second shot clock. The Lions got a preview, Saturday, in their 53-39 loss to undefeated Brother Rice (12-0) at Sandburg’s Shot Clock Charity Shootout.
“For us, it’s not that big a deal. We were shooting before the shot clock anyway,” LTHS senior Michael Reilly said. “But it was definitely a factor at the end of the quarters, end of the half. When we were behind, it was helping us get more shots off.”
The Bulldogs have won six straight since losing to Brother Rice 76-62, Nov. 25, in the championship game of their VandeMerkt Tournament. RBHS beat Crete-Monee 62-44 at home, Dec. 12, and moved to 2-0 in the Metro Suburban Conference by winning 88-57 at Ridgewood Friday.
Senior Stefan Cicic had 18 points and 13 rebounds and three blocked shots against Crete-Monee. Mercer had 17 points behind 5-for-7 three-point shooting. Loftus (9 points, 8 rebounds), Steven Brown (9 points with 2 threes, 4 assists) and Mehki Austin (5 points, 5 assists) also contributed.
“I like the mid-range, fade-away a lot. But I shoot a lot of threes,” Mercer said. “I’m not surprised [by our start]. I knew we were going to be successful. Mostly every game we’re getting better and better, as long as we share the ball and stick to what coach is telling us.”
Even with Mercer out with illness and senior starter Sam Shelven sidelined by an ankle injury, the Bulldogs dominated Ridgewood with a huge third quarter that expanded a nine-point halftime lead.
Cicic had another double-double with 26 points and 18 rebounds. Brown (18 points), Loftus (15 points) and Austin (12) also reached double figures in the Bulldogs’ highest point total this season. Junior reserve Vince Dockendorf was named Defensive MVP.
With Brown out in the 57-48 victory over Thornton Fractional North, Dec. 9, Mercer excelled defensively at the top of the Bulldogs’ 1-3-1 zone defense.
“He brought a ton of defensive energy that really turned the tide of the game,” RBHS coach Mike Reingruber said. “He was tremendous in that. That’s what Cameron does. He plays super-hard every possession. He takes pride in his defense and really wants to get after it and shut the other team’s best player down.”
The Lions had many strong stretches against Brother Rice. They closed to 26-23 at halftime and after the Crusaders scored the first eight points of the third quarter, came within seven points twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 44-37 with 4:40 left on Brady Chambers’ basket, assisted by Jimmy Pajauskas.
Will Taylor (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks), Chambers (8 points, 7 rebounds), Reilly (5 points) and Caleb Greer (5 assists) led LTHS.
“I think definitely that first half is the best we’ve played all year,” Reilly said. “We make good plays throughout the game, but we struggle to have them keep going. It just tells us we can hang around with any team that we play and we can beat them.”
The Lions fell to 1-2 in West Suburban Conference Silver play after losing at York 59-34 Friday with eight points from Chambers (5 rebounds) and Reilly and six points from Taylor.
“[Brother Rice] was a good outing. We gave ourselves a chance to win against a really good team,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said.
“We played pretty good defense. They made some tough shots. And there were 50-50 balls that Rice got a few more of than we did and that’s a point of emphasis for us.”