Boys basketball: Barrington tops Fremd, earns spot in MSL title game against Rolling Meadows

PALATINE – Fremd’s field house can be a distinct home court advantage that can leave visitors intimidated from a variety of images ranging from failing to see the hallways outside to seeing large conference championship banners.

It’s also been the home of many a championship game from Mid-Suburban League conference title tilts to regional and sectional finals and supersectional battles highlighted by five of the six Viking boys hoops sectional triumphs on that same floor.

It added another championship chapter Tuesday night as the home team faced Barrington with a chance at both a share of the MSL West title and a berth in the MSL championship game on the line.

But this story didn’t have a happy ending for Fremd as it saw the visitors slowly chip away at a double-digit Viking lead eventually prevailing, 56-50, to claim the West crown outright to earn a ticket to Saturday’s MSL title clash at East division winner Rolling Meadows.

The Mustangs claimed their prize with a 71-62 home triumph over Hersey to earn their first divisional title since 2012.

Meadows downed Barrington at home, 72-51, on February 20.

“This one was tough to do,” Barrington coach Bryan Tucker said. “We knew we’d have a battle. I’m really proud of our kids in how they hung in there and kept fighting and didn’t give up. It just shows a lot of character to respond that way.”

That response by the Broncos (10-2, 9-1) came by slowly climbing back from a first-half deficit that got as big as 14 in the first quarter. A 7-0 surge brought them within 27-24 at half. They remained in the hunt thanks to a 25-point effort from 6-foot-6 junior swingman Will Grudzinski as his 3-pointer with 4:39 left ignited the decisive rally then his inside dish to 6-5 senior forward Damian Zivak (13 points) gave them the lead for good at 52-50 with 80 ticks left in regulation.

He then proceeded to connect on a pair of technical tosses that came Barrington’s way after a unsportsmanlike conduct call was assessed on a Fremd player with 42 seconds that was sealed with a Daniel Hong layup 22 ticks later.

Zivak credited his charity stripe success to simply practice.

“I always thought to myself you practice free throws for a reason,” Zivak said. “I practice that a lot so when it comes down to big moments like that where the game’s on the line and either you make the free throws and you win the game or lose the game on a missed free throw.”

Junior guards Eli Schoffstall (20 points) and Chris Smyros (17) paced the Vikings (8-4, 7-3) in the losing effort.