Marengo dresses for success in win over Harvard

MARENGO – Marengo’s boys basketball couldn’t lose Friday night, just couldn’t. Not again.

Not for the 16th time in 17 games this season. Not against, of all teams, rival Harvard. Not in the teams’ annual FNBO Challenge in front of a packed house. Not with former longtime assistant coach Roger Cannon being honored before the game.

And not with Indians coach Jeremy Burke dressed for success.

Marengo didn’t lose.

Derek Bibbings scored a game-high 15 points with eight rebounds, the Indians grabbed the lead late in the first quarter, kept building on it and won 51-38 in a Kishwaukee River Conference game, as loud fans filled both sides of the bleachers.

“It was a big one, especially against Harvard,” Bibbings said. “That’s the one we wanted most.”

Marengo (2-15, 1-4 KRC) had incentive with Cannon in attendance.

Burke, the Indians' first-year head coach, played for Marengo (Class of 1997) under legendary coach Bill Barry, whose assistants included Cannon. Cannon recently was selected to be inducted into the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Marengo paid tribute to him before the game.

Burke sported a light gray sports coat with matching slacks, a maroon tie, black shirt and even a tie bar. Assistant Tim Young also dressed up.

“At home games, I try to dress to impress – and it’s for Coach Cannon,“ Burke said. ”You’ve got to look good for Coach.”

Marengo closed the first quarter with a 7-2 run, which included back-to-back 3-pointers from Myles Aukes and Oliver Nichols, to take a 15-11 lead into the second. Bibbings' two 3s and a defensive effort that limited Harvard to five points in the quarter helped the Indians take a 26-16 lead into halftime.

“We were moving the ball like crazy well,” said Bibbings, a 6-foot-4 senior forward who scored all of his points, including the two 3-pointers, in the first three quarters. “No turnovers. None of that stuff. We just played really clean basketball. It was great.”

Harvard’s season-long scoring leader, Adam Cooke, who sat out a big chunk of the first half with two fouls, scored three baskets in the third quarter, but the Hornets couldn’t get any closer than eight points.

Bibbings' baseline five-footer had Marengo up 40-29 entering the fourth, and the Indians never relented. Aukes sank 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth, 6 of 6 in the final 1:07, and finished with 12 points.

Harvard (4-11, 0-6) was led by guard Ryan Bennett’s 14 points. DeAndre Keller added 10 points and eight rebounds coming off the bench. But Cooke was held to seven points, and the Hornets shot just 3 of 21 from 3-point range.

“It always is [a great atmosphere], Harvard-Marengo,” Harvard coach Brian Heidtke said. “They got hot there from the outside in the first half. We made the switch with the man-to-man, cut down on that, but we needed a couple of shooters to get hot, and it just didn’t happen.”

Aukes, Hunter Vazzano and Samuel Chaffin also hit 3-pointers for Marengo, which hadn’t won since its third game of the season over Marian Central at Oregon.

“Man, it feels good,” said a smiling Burke, whose team had lost 13 in a row. “It’s been a while in between. I’m happy for these kids. These kids have been working hard. And what a great night to do it with Coach Cannon’s recognition tonight. What a great night to beat Harvard for him.

“I didn’t want to lose,” Burke added with a laugh. “”A lot of pressure.”