Luca Carbonaro’s 17 points, eight rebounds leads Wheaton Warrenville South past Palatine

Palatine got the tough test it wanted to get at Saturday’s DuKane vs. Mid-Suburban League Shootout at Lake Park, but the Pirates did not get the victory they had hoped for against Wheaton Warrenville South.

The Tigers came up with big defensive plays at just the right time and also connected on 19 of 21 free throws.

“We were really looking forward to this game because Wheaton South sort of set the standard for playing hard and playing the right way,” said Millstone, whose team dropped a conference game to Schaumburg on Friday. “So I thought we battled, just credit to Wheaton South. They were very patient offensively, and extremely physical defensively.”

The 9-8 Pirates played their second straight game without point guard Carter Monroe, who was out with the stomach flu and a thumb injury. The Tigers' defense forced 16 turnovers including 6 in the fourth quarter, which had started with WW South on top just 32-29.

“We got the game tied and had a couple chances to take the lead but Wheaton South just made more plays than we did,” Millstone added. “Going against them is not an easy task. They generate turnovers and they make you uncomfortable offensively, and I think that got to us in the fourth quarter when we needed a couple big possessions.”

Forward Brady Goken started fast with three field goals in a defensive first quarter and he tallied 11 of his game-high 18 in the first half, which ended with the Tigers ahead 23-15. Fellow forward Luca Carbonaro was a perfect 8 for 8 from the foul line and finished with 17 points, but it was defense that really paved the way for WW South to cap off its weekend with a second straight victory.

“I thought we defended well. We talked with this group starting in the summer, that when you’re not shooting well, and we kind of haven’t this year, can we try and win a game 48-42 and grind it out,” Tigers coach Mike Healy said. “And they’re a tough matchup. That big kid [Tony Balanganayi] is a tough matchup.”

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Balanganayi scored inside to tie the game at 27-27 in the third quarter on his way to a team-high 17 points and 8 rebounds, but the Tigers answered with a 3-pointer from Zach Rogers and a steal and layup from Connor Butler. The game was back and forth from there but defense and free throws carried the Tigers to the win.

“Coach Healy has really been on us in practice about defense and about pushing our possessions,” said Goken. “Over the last couple games we’ve really locked in defensively and defense leads to offense creating a lot of fastbreak points for us. Overall this was just a good win for us tonight.”

The Tigers senior got a kick out of playing in the Shootout.

“It’s awesome. It really reminds me of college basketball and how so many conferences have their own tournaments and it’s good to see other teams,” Goken said.

Forward Abram Williams had eight points and six rebounds for the Pirates, while Kasey May and Darrin Dick each added six points.