Bulldogs rely on diverse offense to top Lions again 

Riverside Brookfield High School senior guard Steven Brown alternates wearing a white headband for boys basketball games. Brown intended to unveil it again for Friday’s rematch with visiting rival Lyons Township, but the game proved to be just too big.

“Today was a day where I thought about it and just didn’t put it on,” Brown said. “I was just so focused on the game that I forgot.”

In spite of that, the Bulldogs still looked sharp early and then held off a furious rally to prevail 68-60 in front of a vociferous home crowd and secure their fifth straight season with at least 20 victories.

Sophomore Cameron Mercer’s outside shooting sparked the early momentum for the Bulldogs (20-3) enroute to 21 points with six 3-pointers. Brown (19 points, 11 rebounds) and 7-foot senior center Stefan Cicic (18 points, 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles and senior Mehki Austin contributed eight points and eight assists.

RBHS previously beat the Lions (8-13) at York’s Jack Tosh Classic, 71-56, Dec. 28. Brown had a team-best 26 points with four 3s.

“I don’t think it feels any different. We’ve been looking to get back at them (for losing last year) and we got it twice,” Brown said. “Since we played them twice, it felt like conference. It’s hard to beat a team a second time. We know they’re coming for us, but as we got in the game, we saw the atmosphere [and felt] they can’t beat us.”

“Obviously, it feels great. LT’s a really good team,” Cicic added. “Just this environment was insane. A lot of people showed up and were going crazy every time we made a shot, made a big play.”  

The Bulldogs had many offensive looks for the Lions. Mercer hit his first three 3-point attempts and had 15 points as RB led 34-21 at halftime. 

Cicic had just two first-half points but then got the ball more and asserted himself inside. He scored the Bulldogs’ last two field goals after the Lions closed to 61-56 with 1:35 left. 

“Every time they made a little run, we seemed to come back with a big basket or two and were able to hold them off,” RB coach Mike Reingruber said. 

“It’s a resilient group. The thing I like about this group is we seem to win in different ways. Tonight was a little combination of both [threes and inside]. First half Cameron, second half Stefan. And I really credit Steven.”

Leading the Lions were Ian Polonowski (15 points with 4 threes, 8 rebounds), Liam Taylor (13 points, 7 rebounds), Caleb Greer (11 points, 4 assists), Brady Chambers (4 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists) and Michael Reilly and Jimmy Pajauskas (5 points each). 

The Lions trailed 51-39 after three quarters but threes by Polonowski, Pajauskas and Taylor helped cut the deficit to 57-50. LTHS closed to 61-56 after Taylor was fouled and hit all three free throws.

“It would have been easy to just quit [early]. They battled and that showed,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said. “I was really impressed with our effort, especially in the second half. We made some big shots, big plays to make it tight.” 

With LT trailing 66-60 late, Greer drove for an uncontested layup but slipped on water on the court. Austin controlled the loose ball and hit two free throws with 13.7 seconds. 

“That would have cut it to four. Then we would have called time out and who knows what would have happened,” Sloan said.  

Brown (14 points. 9 rebounds), Mercer (12 points with 2 threes, 5 steals) and Cicic (12 points, 9 rebounds) also reached double figures when RBHS beat Morton 50-38, Jan. 23.

Mercer’s hot hand Friday helped RB lead 27-11 early in the second quarter on 11-for-17 shooting with five 3s before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.

“Cameron has been fantastic all year long. He’s had big games in big moments,” Reingruber said. “For us to be successful the rest of the year, obviously we need him.” 

Mercer, the son of former Chicago Bulls player Ron Mercer, also has proven to be a defensive force, guarding Taylor man-to-man Friday.

“I think when [my father] was my age, he was way more athletic, but I think I am a better shooter,” Mercer said earlier this season. “I like the mid-range fade-away a lot. But I shoot a lot of 3s. He gives me footwork advice.”

Junior Polonowski had one of his best all-around games as one of the Lions’ key reserves.

“It was just teammates kept getting the ball in my hand and I kept shooting. It went in, got a little lucky,” Polonowski said. “I’m getting more acclimated [on varsity], playing more and just finding the groove.” 

The Lions edged Oswego East 55-54 Saturday behind Chambers (15 points, 9 rebounds), Polonowski (12 points), Taylor (11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Greer (7 points, 6 assists) and Tyler Kuta (4 rebounds).