Glenbard East holds off Riverside-Brookfield in rematch

LOMBARD – Junior Jacob Marynowski and his Glenbard East teammates lost their initial Upstate Eight East showdown with Riverside-Brookfield on Jan. 14 by just one point.

For Thursday’s rematch, they couldn’t help but think about their numerous opportunities among 71 shots, including 12 missed layups.

“Last time, we missed a couple of layups but this time we made them,” Marynowski said. “We also ran our offense correctly, played better defense. Better execution.”

The Rams rode an incredibly hot early hand – and then held off a furious comeback by the Bulldogs – to prevail 67-49 and deadlock the conference lead with two games left.

“This was a huge win,” Marynowski said. “If we didn’t win this, I don’t think there was any chance of us really winning conference. We got it done at our own house.”

Glenbard East (16-8) and R-B (16-9) are now 9-1in league play. The Rams finish with rival Glenbard South and Ridgewood. The Bulldogs finish with West Chicago and Fenton.

Glenbard East junior guard Mike Nee had 28 points with four 3-pointers. Marynowski (16 points, 8 rebounds) and Danny Snyder (16 points with 4 threes) also reached double figures. Sam Walton added six rebounds and Devin Kraft, their lone senior starter, had five of the team’s 13 assists.

“This has to be the top (victory for us) right now. Obviously, R-B’s a solid team and this game could decide conference,” Nee said.

The Rams hit 8 of their first nine shots, including three 3w, and 2 of 2 free throws to bolt to a 21-7 lead. They led 38-22 at halftime and 46-30 after a Nee 3 with 4:59 left in the third quarter.

Yet R-B closed to 61-58 with 1:20 left and missed two inside chances to make it a one-point game. Glenbard East scored the next four points on six free throws.

“(The first meeting) they just made a couple of more plays and we missed a ton of layups. That’s what the guys focused on, finishing at the rim, hitting free throws,” Glenbard East coach Eric Kelly said. “We’re one of the best shooting teams in the state. (Nee and Snyder are) two of the best shooters.”

Making their debut in the UEC, the Bulldogs won last season’s Metro Suburban Conference finale down to four teams. Mantas Sleinys (16 points with three 3s, three blocks), Cameron Mercer (14 points) and Danny Loftus (11 points, 12 rebounds) had double-digit games for the Bulldogs. Vince Dockendorf added eight points.

R-B won the first meeting 59-58 on a late free throw by Loftus.

“(This time) they punched us in the mouth early on and were clicking on all cylinders,” R-B coach Mike Reingruber said. “We started playing harder. We just stuck together. And we shot it better the second half. But basically it’s a four-quarter game and you have to make sure you’re playing all four quarters.”

Marynowski had a Rams-best 14 points in the first half on 6-for-9 shooting that supplemented the great outside shooting of Nee and Snyder.

“I think that’s my most (points) in the first half. I just got to the basket,” Marynowski said.“

He was a B-team player a couple of years ago and he’s worked his butt off. He comes in early every morning and gets working,” Kelly said.

Nee, 8-of-11 shooting and 8 for 9 from the line, had a 17-point second half. Nee (nine points) and Snyder (four points) had all but one of the Rams’ fourth-quarter points.

“Any time I get a high amount of points I’ve got to thank my teammates for getting me the ball, giving me open looks, setting screens,” Nee said. “We knew this was a huge game and could decide conference. Now the fate’s in our hands.”

With 5:24 left, R-B closed to 57-51 on a Loftus layup and back-to-back Mercer baskets. The Bulldogs closed to 61-58 with 1:28 left when Brycen Grove scored and was fouled. Grove missed the free throw and Mercer and Loftus both missed inside attempts from offensive rebounds.

“Both guys had looks. Sometimes the ball doesn’t go in,” Reingruber said. “We still control our own destiny. A week from now we have the opportunity to hopefully celebrate but we have two good opponents still ahead of us.”