Raiders Fall Short in Consolation Championship

Finishing on offense is a key to success, but finishing on defense can be just as important.

Down two points to Rich South on Thursday afternoon, Bolingbrook was unable to get a defensive rebound with 12 seconds to play. Rich South scored on the offensive rebound to make it a two-possession game, and that helped the host Stars earn a 56-52 victory in the consolation championship of the McDipper Basketball Tournament.

"That's the best team we've played all season, by far," Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said of the Stars (10-3). "That's what one of the best teams in the state looks like."

The Raiders (5-6) entered the contest having won two in a row in the tournament and hoping to boost their record over .500. They began the game with a flurry, jumping out to a 16-3 lead when junior guard Chad Cooke nailed a three.

Bolingbrook led 16-9 at the end of the first quarter and then extended its lead to 22-9 in the second quarter off a fast-break layup by forward Nick Malonga.

However, Bolingbrook had a difficult time slowing down the Rich South offensive attack the rest of the second quarter. Rich South forward Macari Brooks, who scored a game-high 21 points, proved difficult to guard, as the senior threw down a dunk to cut the lead to 24-19 with 2:31 to play. The Stars trailed only 31-30 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Rich South took the lead at 34-33 when guard Cedric Russell scored. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter, and Rich South led 43-41 at the start of the fourth quarter.

In the final period, the Raiders could never take the lead, as Brooks led the way for Rich South. Bolingbrook trailed 49-47, but Brooks hit a corner jump shot. Then, the Raiders trailed 51-49, but Brooks scored on a fast-break layup.

"(Brooks) is so explosive on his jump shot," Brost said. "We talked at halftime, 'Hey, if he shoots contested jumpers and makes them, we have to live with that.' And we had to live with that."

Bolingbrook was still alive with 49 seconds to play, trailing only 54-52 after forward Devon Hodges made a basket and a free throw. But Rich South center John Ruffin closed the door as he grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it a two-possession game with only 12 seconds to play.

"(Ruffin) is just a beast," Rich South coach Scot Ritter said. "He understands that you have to go to the weak side and he's a big, strong kid. That was a key play."

LaTree Russell led Bolingbrook with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Hodges had 12 points, while Cooke and Malonga each scored 10.

Despite his team's loss, Brost had one positive take-away from the tournament.

"We can compete with anybody," he said. "But we have to continue to get better at the little things, to correct those things so we win games like this.

"I'm not satisfied with this at all," Brost added. "Getting in a close game with Rich South was not our goal. Our goal was to beat them. As the season progresses, we will continue to get better."

Bolingbrook guard Dan Fisher was named to the All-Tournament team.

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