Friars Bounce Back With Win Over Hinsdale Central

HILLSIDE – After facing the challenge of playing against , Fenwick's boys basketball team had to bounce back Tuesday against Hinsdale Central at the Proviso West Tournament.

The hangover of losing to Wayne Blackshear and Morgan Park Monday did not last long, however.

The Friars led by as many as 28 points before coasting to a 59-48 win over Hinsdale Central. The win keeps the Friars' hopes of winning the consolation championship alive. They will face St. Patrick Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

"It will come down to who is ready to play and who wants to win the consolation championship, which is our goal," Fenwick coach John Quinn said. "It's a great goal in this tournament. Since I've been coaching, there have been at least three teams that won the consolation championship (at Proviso West) and went on to win a state championship. Hillcrest did it last year."

Keeping that dream alive meant needing a win over Hinsdale Central (3-7) Tuesday. Fenwick (6-4) wasted little time taking care of that.

After the Red Devils cut the Friars' lead to 15-11 late in the first quarter, Fenwick started to pull away with an 11-0 run. Hinsdale Central didn't score again until the 3:17 mark of the second quarter.

"We looked good early in the game and we had good ball distribution," Quinn said. "That was important. Frankly, I thought (Hinsdale Central) was just a little bit tired. Their shots were short. They were stuck on 11 for a long time."

The Red Devils were coming off a late-night, one-point loss to Proviso East Monday. Proviso East went on to upset Morgan Park Tuesday. And Hinsdale Central shot only 32.1 percent from the field and hit 5-of-16 free throws.

Fenwick took full advantage of that. The Friars' lead swelled to 49-21 late in the third quarter before Hinsdale Central mounted a late comeback with the game already in Fenwick's hands in the fourth quarter.

Samuel Ainsworth posted a double-double to lead Fenwick. He scored 15 points and hauled down 13 rebounds. Tyler Sewall continued his solid tournament with 14 points. His father, former University of Illinois football player Luke Sewall, played in the Proviso West Tournament in the early 1980s for Lyons Township.

"Tyler has been on a roll," Quinn said. "He has some history here and he wanted to play well. He's really asserted himself."

Fenwick also received good news on the health front. Peter Haefner played 13 minutes in his return from an ankle injury. Star forward Dylan Barnett is still out, however.

"He does everything for our team," Quinn said of Barnett. "He has a high ankle sprain. I don't know if he can go tomorrow. He tried to go today, but he couldn't jump."