Boys Basketball: 7-footer Conrad Luczynski powers Bartlett past short-handed Glenbard East

BARTLETT – The athletic repercussions for the still-ongoing pandemic were certainly not limited to on-field issues for local high school athletes.

Getting noticed has also been particularly difficult in the last two years for those seeking to compete at the next level.

But new doors are certainly opening for Bartlett post Conrad Luczynski.

Friday night in the Hawks’ 54-37 Upstate Eight Conference boys basketball victory over Glenbard East, Luczynski continued to fine-tune his recruiting profile with a dominant 21-point, 13-rebound performance in Bartlett.

Then again, Luczynski is not a commonplace figure on the basketball court.

“He is 7-foot-3 — and he is skilled,” Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said of his senior center.

In recent days, Purdue, which entered the week as the No. 1-ranked program in the nation, became the latest major Midwest program to express interest.

“It shows that I am doing something right,” Luczynskis said of his increased profile. “I am getting the guys open when (the opposing defenses) collapse on me. It’s hard for the other teams to guard a 7-3 person.”

The final stat sheet will show the Hawks failing to convert their last 11 field-goal attempts from beyond the arc, but Jacob Magnanao made sure his back-to-back first-quarter 3-pointers carried some weight.

Glenbard East (2-5, 2-1) had its sole lead of the game quickly evaporate as the Hawks (5-3, 2-1) scored 10 of the first 12 points of the game behind the Magnanao 3-pointers.

“With zone defenses, they usually leave scorers open at the top of the key,” Magnanao said. “It’s about finding your space. Give credit to Conrad with his post game.”

Glenbard East had other issues besides contending with all-encompassing presence in the paint — at both ends as Luczynski had a pair of blocks as well.

On countless other occasions, Glenbard East ballhandlers made dramatic U-turns when penetrating the free-throw line.

“We have been playing short-handed with COVID and injury issues,” said Glenbard East coach Al Biancalana, who was missing starters Troy Cooper and Ari Pierson. “We needed some guys to step up tonight. It wasn’t that way tonight. (Luczynski) was up for the task. No one is going to feel sorry for us.”

Jack Ryan, who paced the Rams with nine points, brought Glenbard East to within 28-15 with a runner as the second quarter wound down.

But Luczynski took command in the second half by scoring 14 of his game-high total after the break.

Six of his points came via second-chance rebounds as six of his fellow high on the glass came at the offensive end.

No one else was in double figures for the Hawks as Kelton McCarthy (nine points) did most of his damage from the line.

Marty McCarthy added seven for Bartlett.

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