Riverside Brookfield High School guard Noah VanTholen already is finding his shot as a sophomore starting on varsity. He’s also making them. VanTholen had 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting, including 3-for-3 on three-pointers, as the Bulldogs defeated Glenbard South 63-46, Friday, to remain unbeaten in the Upstate Eight Conference East Division.
“I kind of just got into a groove. My teammates really helped set me up, put me in a good position,” VanTholen said. “Just good preparation. I listened to good music (Rod Wave), made sure I was in the right head space.”
Senior Cameron Mercer (17 points with 2 threes, 9 rebounds) also contributed, followed by seniors Colin Cimino (9 points, 6 assists) and Ben Biskupic (8 points, 8 rebounds).
The Bulldogs (6-2, 3-0 in UEC East) made 26 of 56 shots (46 percent) with 6 threes. In the 60-48 victory over Ridgewood, Dec. 9, the Bulldogs made 21 of 45 shots (47 percent) with 3 threes and 15 of 16 free throws.
On Friday, the Bulldogs visit Glenbard East in the first meeting of last season’s co-UEC East champions.
“It’ll be a good challenge, one I think our guys are up for,” RBHS coach Mike Reingruber said. “Our shooting percentage has been pretty good throughout this season. I feel we’re doing a better job moving the basketball and sharing it, and when you share it, percentages go up.”
Against Ridgewood, Mercer had 24 points on 7-for-15 shooting and 10-for-10 from the free-throw line with six rebounds. Cimino (11 points with 2 threes, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), Biskupic (10 points, 3 steals, 3 blocks), Liam Enright (5 points) and Anthony Tyler and Walker Burns (4 points each) also contributed.
The RBHS girls (3-6, 2-2) defeated Ridgewood 58-19, Dec. 9, and lost to Glenbard South 57-23 Friday.
Senior Arianna Hudson scored a personal-best 22 points against Ridgewood. Claire Evans (12 points, 6 steals, 4 assists), Abby Weinert and Kennedy Holakovsky (5 rebounds each) also excelled.
Evans (6 points), Kate Hamilton (5 points) and Hudson (4 points, 7 rebounds) were top players against Glenbard South.
LTHS basketball
Last season, Lyons Township junior boys guard Timmy Sloan scored a personal-best 24 points in the huge home upset over West Suburban Conference Silver Division rival Hinsdale Central.
Sloan had just five points in Friday’s showdown, but they were among the Lions’ final seven points in their 39-33 victory in La Grange. He finished 4-for-4 from the line, first giving the Lions (6-1, 2-0 in Silver) a 35-31 lead with 1:16 left. His final two, with 19.1 seconds left, were the game’s final points.
“I just stepped up to the line and kind of blocked out the crowd and shot them, just like I do in practice. Obviously I didn’t have the type of performance I wanted this year, but we still won the game so it doesn’t really matter to me,” Sloan said. “We didn’t play great but coming out with a win is always great against Hinsdale. They were holding the ball, but we still found a way to win.”
Sophomore Grant Smith had 17 points, five rebounds with one block and an impressive dunk. Owen Carroll (5 points, 5 rebounds) and Nate Woods, Blake Ragsdale and Tommy Blyth (4 points each) also contributed.
The Lions (6-1, 2-0 in Silver) led 33-26 after Sloan converted 1 of 2 free throws but the Red Devils closed to 33-31 on a three with 2:26 left. In their previous victories, the Lions scored at least 65 points.
“It was a grinder for sure,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said.
Behind 12 three-pointers, Neuqua Valley (7-1) handed the visiting Lions their first loss 71-61, Saturday. Nate Woods (25 points) and Bryon Walton and Grant Smith (11 points each) finished in double figures. Sloan did not play to rest a left ankle injury.
The LTHS girls (10-1, 3-1 in Silver) had their first loss 51-46 at Downers Grove North, Dec. 9, and beat Proviso West 79-8, Friday, and Phillips 65-31, Saturday.
Emma O’Brien had 12 points and seven rebounds against Downers North (8-1, 2-1), followed by Kennedy Moore (9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals), Gwen Smith (8 points, 7 rebounds), Avery Mezan (7 points. 4 assists) and Evie Riopell (7 points, 5 rebounds).
The Lions trailed Downers North 47-33 early in the fourth quarter but closed to 49-46 on Riopell’s basket with 32.0 seconds. The Trojans held on by making 1 of 2 free throws twice. LTHS trailed 27-12 in the second quarter before closing to 28-22 at halftime.
“A lot of missed bunnies, fouls. We kind of dug ourselves a hole we couldn’t climb out of but [our players] didn’t give up,” LTHS coach Meghan Hutchens said. “They pressed well and put the pressure on them. We could have kept fighting if we had a little bit more time.”
The Lions return to the 16-team Montini Christmas Tournament with their opener against the Merrillville (Ind.) Pirates (2-9) at 3 p.m., Monday, Dec. 22.