Broncos Lose Regional Championship Battle to Warriors

On Friday, March 4^th, the three-seeded Barrington Broncos defense clamped down during the 4A IHSA regional championship game held in Libertyville, and only allowed the eleventh seed Deerfield Warriors nine total field-goals (five-three pointers). What was even more unique was that not one of those field-goals occurred during the fourth quarter or eventual overtime, yet the Broncos still lost 45-41.

“It is tough to lose when you play that kind of defense,” Barrington's coach Bryan Tucker said following the game. “Both teams did well defensively and both teams did well on the boards; it was a battle.”

With defense leading the way to open the game for both squads, neither team was really able to find their offensive rhythm. At the 4:34 mark, the Broncos were able to jump on the scoreboard first with senior guard Greg Gerrard's physical interior play that not only secured position on the Warrior defender but allowed for the bucket and foul. The unconventional three-point play sparked the Broncos to an 8-2 first quarter lead as Barrington's defense only allowed Deerfield one field goal in the frame (at 3:05). Gerrard would end his Barrington basketball career by ending the game with 7 points.

After Barrington's sophomore guard Brad Zaumseil kick started the second quarter, with an incredible individual effort that saw him scoring, rebounding, stealing and assisting all in the opening seconds, the Broncos would build on their first quarter momentum with a 5-2 run giving them a 13-4 lead. Zaumseil's scored nine in the games, but his points don't really convey all that this young player accomplished in 36 minutes of basketball.

“He's been impressive,” Coach Tucker said of the underclassman that doesn't play like one. “He doesn't always get the point total next to his name, but he is getting everyone else their points.”

The Deerfield fans, due to proximity, were able to turn it into a home court advantage, tried to disrupt the crafty guard with chants of “Justin Bieber,” but Zaumseil was unaffected as he would sink two key free-throws late in the game that would tie the game.

“[The opposing fans] have been calling me that lately,” Zaumseil said of the late game screams. “It didn't really bother me and I just ignore it.”

But Deerfield's (18-10) grit and determination, that saw them upset Buffalo Grove (6^th seed) a few nights earlier, saw them fight their way back. The Warriors battled to a 13-4 run to end the second quarter and managed to tie the game at 17 to end the half. Deerfield would score 6 (of their 9 field goals for the game). Warrior senior guard Joshua Schur would score 5 in the period and 10 for the game.

"We thought we were getting good shots in the paint, on the perimeter, and that is a good mix," said Tucker. "The shots just weren't going in and we had some good looks.”

“Then [Deerfield] got hot, hit a few 3s, got the momentum back, and took that energy into the second half," Tucker went on to say.

Early in the second half, Deerfield would hit another three that would give them their first lead of the game but the two teams would end the third quarter tied at 26 after senior guard Tyler Weathered would hit a three-pointer. Weathered would end the game with 7 points.

“We went at them right away, made some shots and our defense was solid,” Weathered said of the game. “[Deerfield] went on a run and nothing was dropping for us; while they were streaking we were in a slump.”

Despite ending the third quarter knotted at 26, Barrington surprisingly suffered great damage in the quarter by picking up costly fouls that would rack up quickly sending Deerfield to the line for the bonus early.

Neutralizing Barrington's game-long defense was Deerfield getting to the free stripe early in the fourth, and often in overtime. The Warriors would go to the line 23 times in the fourth quarter and overtime, hitting 18 of them. The only way Deerfield would score the rest of the game, they would end the night with almost a 3 to 1 advantage at the line for the game. Warriors ended 22 of 29 while Barrington was a mere 9 of 11.

When asked about his thoughts on the free-throw discrepancy, Tucker, knowing the answer, only commented, “How many free-throws did we shoot?”

Deerfield's senior forward John Carney would end 9 of 10 from the free stripe and scored a game high 12 points. The field goals made for the Warriors were a sharp contrast to their game against Buffalo Grove where they had missed 13 as a team.

After Zaumseil's free-throws that tied the game at 32 to end regulation, Deerfield would find their home on the free-throw line and would go 13 of 16 in the four minute overtime period and Barrington was unable to keep up. The Warriors would capture the regional championship with a 45-41 victory.

“We played really good defense and gave them no easy baskets.” Zaumseil said post-game. “They just made it to the free-throw line.”

“This was a tough night and we are not going to let it ruin what they have accomplished,” Tucker said of the team finishing as MSL W conference champs and their (19-11) record.

Deerfield will play at the Barrington Sectionals later next week against Mundelein.

Bronco End of Season News and Notes:

There is still reason to cheer at the Barrington Sectionals if you are a Bronco, or basketball fan in general, as Tyler Weathered will be performing in the three-point shoot-out. Good Luck!

In bitter-sweet thoughts, the Bronco basketball fans saw the last days of seniors Greg Gerrard (a potential double-double threat every night he steps on the court) Tyler Weathered (and his ability of shooting from just about anywhere on the floor) and Owen Prunskis and Lukas Osmundsen (rebounding and defensive specialists).

But the Broncos show a lot of promise that has this writer eagerly looking forward to nine months from now, especially after seeing the continuous year-long growth of sophomore starter Zaumseil and junior forward John Schneider (scored a team high 11 against Deerfield) throughout the year. The strong bench play of juniors Mark Bennett and Taylor Ganzer only adds to a bright future of Bronco basketball.

“Naturally we are excited about some of the kids coming back, without a doubt,” Tucker said. “Next year is just so far away and who knows what these guys schedules will hold in nine months.”

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