Brycen Grove’s rare four-point play lifts Riverside-Brookfield past Lyons Township

RIVERSIDE – Riverside-Brookfield senior reserve Brycen Grove did something new on the basketball court to help beat the oldest of rivals Saturday.

Grove not only took and made a clutch 3-pointer against Lyons Township, he sank the free throw after also being fouled for a rare four-point play.

“That’s my first time (I’ve achieved that) – ever – in a basketball game,” Grove said. “I’m not going to lie.”

Grove’s six points completed the 15-3 run in the fourth quarter that carried the Bulldogs to a 69-66 home victory in the rivals’ annual regular-season battle.

Riverside-Brookfield (14-7) trailed 54-49 with 6:49 left before starting its run with nine unanswered points. Senior Vince Dockendorf hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Bulldogs their final three-point margin.

The Lions (7-10) almost forced overtime, but junior Owen Carroll’s 3 went off the back of the rim and Dockendorf pushed the rebound away as time expired.

Last season, the Bulldogs went 2-0 against the Lions, first playing at York’s Jack Tosh Holiday Classic.

“It’s always great to beat LT, just right across town. They’re a great program. You know a lot of the guys growing up, playing them,” said senior Danny Loftus, the Bulldogs’ top scorer who had a team-best 15 points Saturday.

“I think I could have done a bit better but just the sensation of beating LT in front of a great crowd, probably the best crowd we’ve had all year, that ranks pretty high (among our victories).”

Dockendorf had 13 points (seven in fourth quarter) and junior guard Cam Mercer had 10, all in the first half. Grove (nine points), Colin Cimino (six points on 2 3s), Mantas Sleinys and Liam Enright (five points each) also contributed to the victory.

Seniors Josh Gutierrez (16 points) and Ian Polonowski (15 points), Carroll (13 points with three 3s) and Bobby Vespa (10 points) reached double figures for the Lions.

The Bulldogs are 6-0 since going 1-3 at this season’s Tosh Holiday Classic.

The Lions are 0-4 after an impressive 3-1 performance at the Tosh Classic with all four games decided by four to six points.

“We stuck together and made plays. We got great contributions from everybody,” R-B coach Mike Reingruber said. “It was our best team win of the year. Everybody brought something to the table, which I can’t say for all of our games this year, so today was a great team win.”

The victory also finished a week of close calls in taking over first place outright in the Upstate Eight East. They beat Glenbard East 59-58 Tuesday in the showdown of undefeated co-leaders and Glenbard South 65-62 at home Friday after nearly squandering a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead.

Mercer, a returning starter along with Loftus, was on the bench during Saturday’s comeback with four fouls. After Mercer was injured during the Bulldogs’ second game at the Tosh Classic, they played the last 10 quarters without him.

“(Those games) made us really learn how to get used to doing stuff without him. It can’t just be one person going to shoot. Everybody’s got to step up,” Grove said. “Defense and just being physical (helped us rally Saturday).”

The Lions trailed 36-32 at halftime but led 49-46 after three quarters behind 3s from Polonowski, Carroll and Timmy Sloan. Starting the fourth quarter with an inside basket by Gutierrez and a Carroll 3 to lead 54-49, LT then only had a Vespa 3 over its next eight possessions.

The Lions still persevered as Carroll had two baskets, including a 3, and Gutierrez scored inside to close to 67-66 before the Lions fouled Dockendorf.

“I think our Glenbard South game really helped us figure out what we have to do in tight situations and really focus, especially against a great team like LT,” Loftus said.

The Bulldogs called a timeout leading 62-57 with 2:51 left. They ate almost a minute off the clock before Dockendorf drove the lane and missed, but Grove made the uncontested putback for a seven-point cushion.

“We learned from one day to the next,” Reingruber said. “I called a timeout to talk about that specifically (after Friday), and we did a great job executing.”