Schuemer, Myers named to all-tournament team.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The Willowbrook boys basketball team wrapped up the 2017 portion of its schedule by going 3-1 at the Glenbard West tournament.
The Warriors lost to host Glenbard West by two points in the championship game.
“Glenbard West has a pretty good team. They played well,” said Willowbrook coach Chris Perkins. “We didn’t play well. They got out to a big lead, 14-3, on us. We cut into the lead and took the lead with about two or three minutes left. It was back and forth after that. We were playing catch-up most of the game.”
Willowbrook advanced to the tournament final with wins against Glenbard North, St. Francis and Hoffman Estates.
“Those all were double-digit wins,” said Perkins. “We were rolling defensively. Our full-court pressure and half-court traps helped us out a lot in those games. We were able to get a lot of transition baskets. Our defense created transition opportunities for us.”
Perkins said a team effort paved the way on defense. “Our press is not necessarily one person,” he said. “It depends on where the traps come from.”
Perkins did laud Sikander Zafar for his defensive efforts throughout the season. “Sikander probably is our best defender,” he said. “He’s at the top of the press and does a good job in the half-court trap. Everybody else loads up and gets in those passing lanes.”
Ethan Schuemer and Matt Myers were named to the all-tournament team at Glenbard West.
“Both of them have been consistent for us,” said Perkins. “Ethan is a workhorse. He played well in the tournament. He got into foul trouble against Glenbard West and that prevented him from playing a lot in the championship. He had four points. Overall, he’s been rebounding, playing great and finishing for us. Matt is a consistent playmaker for us. He gets others involved and he’s done a good job rebounding.”
The loss to Glenbard West put Willowbrook at 9-2 overall.
“I’m pleased so far,” said Perkins. “Our two losses have come at Proviso East by two points in overtime at the buzzer and the loss to Glenbard West in the championship game in their own gym. That’s two losses by two points each to respectable teams. I’m pleased with the first 11 games, but we have a lot of games to go before the playoffs.”
Perkins noted between Jan. 6 and Jan. 30 the Warriors will play 12 games in that 24-day stretch.
“After those 12 games we will know a lot more about ourselves,” he said.
Willowbrook again will head to Sterling during the Martin Luther King weekend for a tournament where it will play four games in a three-day span with two games each on that Saturday and Monday.
“That tournament always is a grind,” said Perkins. “Hopefully we’ll have some momentum here at the end of the month and then the schedule eases. We won’t have as many games and that will give us time to practice and get ourselves ready for the playoffs.”
