WA vs. Buffalo Grove, 11/22/06

Daily Herald, THU Nov 23, 2006

Buffalo Grove 59, Wheaton Academy 47: Host Buffalo Grove built a huge first-half lead and breezed to a 59-47 victory over Wheaton Academy in the Bison Classic Wednesday.

BG (2-0) led 26-9 after the first quarter, 47-24 at halftime and 57-33 after three quarters, and the Bison were content to take long possessions in the final quarter, as Wheaton Academy worked hard to whittle away at the lead.

Both teams come back Friday. BG will face Lakes Community at 7:30 p.m., following the 6 p.m. opener between Wheaton Academy and Elgin.

“I’m pleased with the way we started the game and the second half,” said BG coach Ryan O’Connor. “We’re playing very well together. We’ll find out more this weekend with Lakes and Stevenson (Saturday).”

The Bison showed balanced scoring. Ryan O’Gara’s 13 points led an attack that saw 7 players score 5 or more points.

“It’s important for us to start out well, especially on our home floor,” said O’Gara, who made 1 of his team’s 6 3-point baskets. “We’re definitely a 3-point team. We can be streaky, but it’s important not to just rely on 3-pointers.”

Mike Ricciardi scored 11 and Brian DeSimone 10 for the Bison, and reserve Sam English had 8 points.

The Warriors (0-3) found themselves on the short end against a physically stronger opponent for the second time in three games, dropping their tournament opener to Stevenson by 23 points.

“In the Lakes game (77-76 loss at the buzzer Tuesday), we competed and showed what we’re capable of doing,” said first-year Wheaton Academy coach Paul Ferguson.

The Warriors were led by Ben Euler’s 18 points, including 4 3-pointers, 3 of which came in a second-quarter spree that produced 11 points. John Albaugh scored 11 for WA, and Joel Malmquist added 7.

The Warriors have no returning starters back from last year. Euler was the Warriors’ sixth man last season and averaged 7.2 points per game.

— Larry Weindruch