When it comes to playing basketball, Riverside Brookfield High School senior Ben Biskupic isn’t really a morning person.
“I don’t like getting up early at all,” Biskupic said. “I like going to school, getting my studies in. It kind of prepares me for the game.”
Even though Saturday’s game was slightly borderline with an earlier 5 p.m. start, Biskupic was more than ready to go — the Bulldogs were playing at rival Lyons Township. He even swished a three-pointer for the game’s first basket, and the Bulldogs’ energy never relented in their 55-40 victory in La Grange.
With Monday’s 64-55 victory over Crete-Monee, RBHS (15-5, 6-1 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division) now has won seven in a row.
The Lions (11-6, 4-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) were coming off a 49-16 running-clock victory at Downers Grove North Thursday.
“[Beating LTHS] means a lot, especially for me. In my four years, I hadn’t lost to them,” Biskupic said. “I always feel we go in with a little disrespect because we’re the smaller school, kind of the little brother, everything else, but when we play basketball we can beat them.”
Senior guard Cameron Mercer led four Bulldogs in double figures against the Lions, scoring 21 points with 4 three-pointers, three in the second quarter, along with a team-best eight rebounds.
Biskupic (12 points with 2 threes, 6 rebounds), sophomore Noah VanTholen (10 points, 5-for-8 free throws, 4 assists) and senior Liam Enright (10 points) also were leading scorers. Senior Colin Cimino had seven rebounds.
“We always love an LT win, always. We go into the year and we have our big games, big tournaments. LT’s always on top,” Enright said.
The Bulldogs made 16 of 45 shots with 8 threes and 15 of 19 free throws, but RBHS coach Mike Reingruber emphasized the game was won primarily by defense.
That included 19 points off turnovers and Mercer taking three charges. The nonconference game used the optional 35-second shot clock.
“That was, by far, our best defensive effort of the year and showed what these guys are capable of when they’re tuned into the scouting report and they don’t take any plays off,” Reingruber said. “It’s a great win. It’s always great. It’s a neighborhood rivalry game. We’ve had some great battles over the years and our guys believe we can win. We’ve got winners in that locker room.”
Biskupic said the Bulldogs started in a man-to-man defense and never switched.
LTHS, which has scored at least 60 points in eight games (7-1 record), had 40 points or fewer for the fourth time (1-3).
“Oh man, I love defense. This is beyond our best defensive game for sure,” Enright said. “I think that if we go against a lot of teams with that type of defense, we’re going to be trouble.”
Riverside-Brookfield’s Colin Cimino (21) puts up a shot against West Chicago’s Tristan McWilliams (13) during an Upstate Eight Conference game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Liam Enright (30) gets fouled by West Chicago’s Ryan Slattery (21) and Tristan McWilliams (13) during an Upstate Eight Conference game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Benjamin Biskupic (22) drives the baseline against West Chicago during an Upstate Eight Conference game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
The Lions were 17 of 57 shooting and 3 for 23 from three-point range. They had no players in double figures but a balanced attack with Grant Smith (8 points, 6 rebounds), Timmy Sloan (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), Nate Woods (7 points) and Tommy Sloan (5 points, 5 rebounds). Tommy Blyth and Owen Carroll each had six rebounds.
RBHS led 27-19 at halftime but only 39-34 after three quarters before pulling away. The Bulldogs maintained 12-point leads on pairs of free throws by VanTholen and Mercer, his creating a 52-40 advantage with 1:50 left.
“We played OK, well enough to win if we shot it better,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said.
“RB’s tough. They’re physical, defend well. They took three or four charges on our drives. We had opportunities to score and they stepped in and took them away. It boiled down to they played better, they shot it better.”
On Monday, Mercer rode a strong start for 32 points against Crete-Monee (11-10) at the MLK Shootout at Fenwick. Cimino (10 points, 7 rebounds), VanTholen (6 points) and Walker Burns and Enright (5 points each) also contributed.
Down 11 in the first quarter, the Bulldogs were tied 32-32 by halftime and opened the third quarter with a 13-0 run.
“[Mercer has] had a heck of a season no matter what the half is but our goal early on was to get a couple of other guys going in the start of that second half,” Reingruber said. “Colin really kind of came out not only on the offensive end but played tremendous defense.”
In UEC East play Friday, the Bulldogs beat West Chicago 66-32 in front of a Pack the Place home crowd behind Mercer (12 points), Cimino and VanTholen (11 points each) and Biskupic (9 points, 6 rebounds).
Against Downers North (10-8, 2-3), the Lions flourished with Smith (12 points with 2 threes), Carroll (11 points), Timmy Sloan (9 points with 3 threes), Tommy Sloan (8 points) and Blyth (6 points).
LTHS led 26-8 at halftime and 48-11 after three quarters. The Trojans were 2-for-35 on three-point attempts.
Melvin Tate contributed to this report.
