Lyons' Torrid Second-Half Shooting Foils Downers South

The backbreaker for Downers Grove South came with 38 seconds to play.

Lyons Township, which missed its first eight shots from the field in the schools' West Suburban crossover boys basketball game Saturday night, totally reversed its fortunes in the second half of a 74-69 victory in Downers Grove.

The Lions' Dylan Fiedler and Eric Powers collaborated on an alley-oop layup to extend Lyons' lead to six points, and LT held fast-charging Downers South off at the free-throw line for the victory.

After misfiring on 21-of-31 shots in falling behind Downers South (7-3) 30-22 at the break, Lyons connected on its first six attempts in erupting for 26 points in each of the third and fourth quarters.

The Lions were 15-for-21 from the floor in the second half and missed only two free throws against 16 makes from the line in the second half.

"I give them credit," Downers South coach Jay Baum said. "I knew they weren't going to miss their shots the whole game. If you give up 70-some points in a high school game, you're not going to win. To lose twice on a home court in a week is very difficult to swallow."

The Mustangs could not have scripted a better start. Dan Jurgutis' three-pointer from the left wing culminated a 17-6 game-opening run for South. Lyons would eventually claw back to within eight at the break, largely fueled by seven offensive rebounds.

"We didn't box out," Baum said.

Ziggy Raiuka scored 12 of his 19 points for South in the opening half against Lyons' physically imposing and experienced front line.

Lyons' Spencer Mahoney forged the first tie of the game midway through the third quarter, and the Lions' blistering 10-of-14 performance from the field was anchored by Nick Zeisloft draining a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 48-43 lead.

"We changed defenses (in the third) and forced some turnovers, forced some jump shots they didn't make," Lyons coach Tom Sloan said. "We did a good job of sharing the ball."

Mark Hohn, who led all players with 20 points, spearheaded several South counterpunches at Lyons in the fourth quarter. But Lyons' five players in double figures, led by 14 from seventh-man Fielder, enabled LT to retain its lead.

"They always seemed to have a guy open," Jurgutis said of the Lions' 52-point second-half outburst. "They ran their offense very well."

Jurgutis was the eighth player in double digits in the game with 10 points.
The Mustangs were without the services of Jerron Wilbut, who missed his fourth game of the season due to undisclosed reasons.