Wheaton Academy vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South (WA Thanksgiving Invitational) Friday, November 23, 2007 at 8:00 PM ct
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Warriors fall to Tigers in low-scoring affair

Posted on 11.24.07 at 12:28 AM

It was a clash of basketball styles on Friday night: the fast-break loving Wheaton Academy Warriors and the slow, grind-it-out, wear 'em out methodical Tigers of Wheaton South. South entered the game after squeeking out a 55-54 win against Streamwood, who WA defeated earlier in the week 75-61. In the end, the Tigers came out victorious in their final game of the Wheaton Academy Thanksgiving Invite.

Both teams played the game without their best big men. South was lacking center Kendrick Perry, while Wheaton Academy severely missed the post presence of 6'8" Tim Rusthoven. With Rusthoven out of the mix, both Jared Cochrum and Paul Werkema started in the game.

The first quarter belonged to Wheaton Academy, who were jump-started by an Eric Albaugh three-pointer, followed by back-to-back 3's by senior Benjamin Euler. WA outscored Wheaton South 9-5 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, a number of careless turnovers coupled with poor shot choices allowed for a Wheaton South run to even out the game. South 3-point bomber Byron Given emerged from his 5-for-27 shooting slump over the previous three games, nailing a number of three's that allowed the Tigers to gain a 17-16 edge at the half. Byron Given finished with a game-high 20 points for the night.

Wheaton South's slow, methodical offense took a toll on Wheaton Academy in the third quarter. With a slight lead, the game began to look like it was in the Tigers' hands, as they took 10-12 pass offensive possessions. Offensively for Wheaton Academy, shots were not falling and calls were not going their way. Despite these factors, the game remained close.

With less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Euler made it a 26-31 game with a three pointer, but WA couldn't find a way to get any closer in the remaining minutes, as they were forced to foul and send the Tigers to the free throw line. The game concluded with Wheaton South ahead of WA by ten points, 41-31.

Benjamin Euler led in scoring for the Warriors, tallying 14 points, while Jason Roy added 5 points and Albaugh 4. Wheaton Academy moves to 2-1 on the season with Friday night's loss, and will finish up Thanksgiving tournament play tomorrow night against Chicago Collins.