Dec. 19--Conant's offense gave a big assist to its defense on Friday night in Hoffman Estates.
The Cougars overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to beat Fremd 45-38, holding the Vikings to seven points in the second half, two in the fourth quarter.
"I thought our guys did a better job of letting our offense help our defense out in the second half," Conant coach Tom McCormack said. "We worked the ball around a little bit more, got it inside a little bit more."
Conant (7-1, 3-0 Mid-Suburban West) took control with a 16-2 run, from a buzzer-beating tip-in by Anthony Ziccardi to end the third to a pair of free throws by James Sotos late in the fourth.
"We passed the ball a little more on offense, made them work hard on defense, got them tired," Sotos said. "Then they kind of rushed their shots on offense."
Fremd (9-2, 2-1) was in command at halftime, leading 31-22 with Payton Kim scoring nine of his 11 points. The Vikings led by 10 with five minutes left in the third, but they went cold from the field. Fremd made one field goal in the third and one more in the fourth. Conant's switch from man-to-man to a 1-2-2 zone defense helped force eight Vikings turnovers in the second half.
Conant reeled off eight straight points to begin the fourth, two on putback of a missed free throw by Ryan Davis for a 37-36 lead. The Cougars went 6-for-7 from the foul line in the final 29 seconds.
"When we were down we had to find a way to get our rhythm back," said Conant's Michael Downing, a St. Joseph transfer who scored 10 points. "Sotos played big for us and we needed that out there. He told me 'Mike you have to carry us,' and I had his back all the way."
Bob Hurst is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: James Sotos, Conant, 13 points, 3 steals.
Key performers: Conant -- Ryan Davis, 10 points, 11 rebounds; Michael Downing, 10 points, 3 blocks. Fremd -- Payton Kim, 11 points, 3 steals; Patrick Benka, 10 points; Brian Dompke, 10 points.
