Vinny Cesario helps Plano pull away late to win at Sandwich

SANDWICH – Plano senior Vinny Cesario was having a hard time hearing late in the fourth quarter of the Reapers' game Tuesday night at Sandwich.

That was a good thing.

Cesario’s layup off a turnover helped the Reapers finally put away the hosts 52-44 in the Kishwaukee River Conference opener for both squads.

He led the Reapers with 18 points and seven rebounds.

“It feels amazing to have all the eyes on us, and it was loud,” Cesario said. “We could barely hear ourselves. To be honest, it felt like a movie almost. It felt awesome to be out there and also to get the ‘W.’ It felt good to come out with the win.”

Plano (2-4, 1-0) led 10-8 after one quarter and 20-19 at halftime but was tied at 32 after three quarters as the teams went back and forth with six ties and 14 lead changes.

“The whole game was tightly contested,” Sandwich coach Matt Chalfin said. “It really came down to one or two turnovers and breakaway layups in transition. They made plays there at the end of the game, and we created some turnovers, too, but just didn’t capitalize on those turnovers like they did at the end of the ballgame.”

Sandwich (1-5, 0-1) took its final lead of the game at 34-32 after a drive and basket from Simeion Harris in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

Cesario answered on Plano’s next possession, knocking down one of Plano’s six 3-pointers. He followed with a steal and a pair of free throws before finishing a personal 7-0 run that took all of 41 seconds with a magical layup with 6:29 left to play for a 39-34 lead.

Junior Alan Contreras' long pass in transition appeared destined for a turnover, but it bounced around before senior Amari Bryant was able to collect it and dish it to Cesario for the easy finish.

“You could feel the momentum going as the crowd got going on our side for us,” Bryant said. “We can score more off of playing like that.”

Bryant joined Cesario in double figures with 11 points. He also had four assists. Senior Gabe Steele had eight points, while Contreras and Kevin Martinez each chipped in with seven points apiece.

“I’m just really proud of our guys,” Plano coach Kyle Kee said. “We’re not executing all that well, and some guys are really forcing it, really struggling in shooting the ball and trying to find their game a little bit. But I think we’re playing really good teams coming off the Yorkville game, and Sandwich definitely has had some struggles, but they’re a lot better than a 1-5 team.

“They had some sickness and played a tough schedule there at Sycamore [Strombom Tournament]. I’m just really happy that we pulled this out today in this kind of emotional place, and happy for the seniors to win here in their last game here.”

Senior Dom Rome led Sandwich with 12 points and eight rebounds. Harris and senior Quinn Rome each had nine points. Quinn Rome also had six rebounds, and Harris had four steals. Junior Braden Behringer had five rebounds and six points.

“We definitely try to get it to our big guys; they’re a force down there, and I thought they battled all night,” Chalfin said. “But we have to start hitting shots (1 of 11 on 3-pointers). We only hit one 3 [by junior Griffin Somlock, early in the second quarter], and that’s not good enough in games like this where it’s high pace and Plano shoots a lot of 3s (6 of 18), and they can get hot and really break a game open. I thought we did a really good job of contesting their 3s and making them run off the line and go into our bigs.

“I thought our guys battled really hard. I’m very proud of them in their effort today in a good environment.”

Plano survived an 8-for-20 night from the free-throw line, while Sandwich converted 11 of 18 from the stripe. Both teams were victimized by 20 turnovers.