Boys basketball: Schilling, Austin combine for 49, Sterling storms back from big halftime deficit to top Hinsdale South

STERLING – The Sterling boys basketball team came out flat in the first half of the final game of the seventh annual MLK Classic against Hinsdale South on Saturday night at Musgrove Fieldhouse, but bounced back in a big way to win 62-53.

After trailing by 17 points at the half, the Golden Warriors tightened up their perimeter defense and scored much more efficiently, capturing the lead midway through the fourth quarter and never looking back.

“We never give up. They’re obviously going to get our best shot, no matter the score,” Sterling point guard JP Schilling said. “And like coach said, 0-0 in the second half. That’s the way we played.”

Power forward Lucas Austin and Schilling were instrumental in Sterling’s comeback win. Austin scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half, while Schilling scored 15 of his 25 points after the break.

The Hornets got the upper hand early with a 12-5 run in the first five minutes, but the Golden Warriors battled back, closing out the first quarter with a deep Kyle Billings buzzer-beater 3 to pull within 14-11.

In the second quarter, Hinsdale South seized the momentum. Forward Garrett Bolte scored 12 points, the Hornets made five 3-pointers, and they outpaced Sterling 24-10 to build a 38-21 lead at halftime. Bolte finished the first half with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Hinsdale South made seven 3-pointers and held a decisive rebounding advantage at halftime.

“We definitely had to get more rebounds and had to get more shots, simply,” Schilling said of the first-half struggles.

“We were leaving shooters too open in the corners and everywhere,” Austin added.

Late in the third quarter, Sterling began to turn the tide. Austin started the scoring run with a contested right-wing 3 with 2:43 to play, cutting the deficit to 40-33.

At the end of the third quarter, Austin hit a buzzer-beater 3 to bring Sterling within six points at 44-38.

“That was really exciting for the team, because everybody got up and happy,” Austin said. “And then we started getting more confidence after that.”

In the fourth quarter, the Golden Warriors’ hot shooting continued. Austin made his fifth 3 of the game with 7:44 left to pull within three at 44-41, then Schilling knocked down a 3 and scored a layup on back-to-back possessions to make it a two-point game at 50-48.

Guard Andre Klaver tied the game 50-50 just over a minute later with a reverse layup, and Austin hit a turnaround midrange jumper near the right baseline to take the lead at 52-50 with 3:51 to play.

Over the final three minutes, Sterling expanded its lead. Austin made his sixth and final 3-pointer of the game with 2:51 to play. Then Schilling scored a layup with 2:08 to go, threw a cross-court dime to Billings from the right wing to the left side of the lane with 1:32 to go, and went 1-for-2 on the technical free throw trip to make it a 60-50 lead.

Schilling finished the game with 25 points, four rebounds and two assists. Austin added 24 points and shot 6-for-11 from 3-point range.

Bolte paced Hinsdale South with 22 points and 13 rebounds. He also shot 5-for-7 on 3-pointers.

Sterling 46, Antioch 33: In their first game of the day at their own MLK tournament, the Golden Warriors outscored Antioch 32-10 in the second and third quarters to take control.

Schilling scored 18 points to pace Sterling, and Austin finished with 14.

Marshall Gehrke was the only Antioch player in double figures with 12 points.