Lincoln-Way East avenges early-season loss, tops Lockport 69-65

LOCKPORT – After starting the season well, the Lincoln-Way East boys basketball team hit a bumpy middle part.

But with Jaymon Hornsby healthy, the Griffins hope to be making a move in the stretch run.

Hornsby, a junior guard, scored a career-high 21 points, and senior guard Brendon Sanders added nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Lincoln-Way East strolled into Lockport and won its third straight SouthWest Suburban Conference game with a 69-65 victory Friday night.

“It was really big,” Hornsby said of the win. “We lost to them at home earlier in the season, and our mindset was to come into their house and get a win.”

Lincoln-Way East (12-8, 6-4) started the season 5-0 but saw that streak come to an end in a 63-58 loss to the Porters on Dec. 13. But Hornsby – who missed some time in the middle of the season with a thigh injury – helped make sure that wasn’t going to happen again. He scored seven points in the fourth quarter and was also key on defense with a couple steals as the Griffins forced nine of Lockport’s 19 turnovers in the final quarter.

“Coach had a good game plan,” Hornsby said of the team’s defense down the stretch. “He drew up a different scheme for us and told us to be hard to the ball.”

Veteran Griffins coach Rich Kolimas was happy to have Hornsby back to help get that defense in order.

“He was injured in the middle part of the season, and that set us back a bit,” Kolimas said. “But when he plays well, he brings that extra dimension of quickness that others don’t have. He got after it on defense, and Brenden Sanders, who has been scoring for us, made some big shots too.”

Lockport (13-8, 7-3) saw its six-game winning streak end. The Griffins trailed 49-48 after three, but Hornsby had four points – including a steal and a layup – and Sanders, who led the team with seven rebounds, added three in a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter.

Anthony Kosi finally put the Porters on the board in the fourth quarter on a jumper with 3:17 to play. Trailing 61-52, Lockport made a frantic charge, going on an 8-1 spurt in 53 seconds and closed within 62-60 on a layup by sophomore guard Nathan Munson (six points) with 1:24 to play.

But Sanders went 4-for-4 from the line, and sophomore Evan Riff hit a pair of key free throws in the final 1:17, and Lockport never got closer. Riff and senior Landon Johnson added six points apiece.

“We’re right there, and we’re playing for a higher seed in the sectional,” said Kolimas, who is retiring at the end of this season. “Lockport had been playing well. ... We got after it defensively, and it was a nice win.”

The game featured six ties and 13 lead changes. Lockport scored the first basket, but the Griffins answered with an 11-0 run and led 18-15 after the first quarter. The second quarter had two ties and seven lead changes, with Nedas Venckus – who had a team-high 20 points – putting in a rebound at the buzzer to give the Porters a 36-35 halftime lead.

Junior forward Trace Schaaf had 13 points, Nojus Venckus, the twin brother of Nedas, added 10 points and senior forward Collin Miller added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Porters.

“It started from the tip,” Lockport coach Dave Wilson said of his team’s downfall. “I didn’t have a good game plan, and they hit five 3s (in the first half). We had to battle back the rest of the game, and Lincoln-Way East is very physical. That’s been our kryptonite.

“We just have to flush this game. We have three games in five days next week, and we have to focus on that.”

The Griffins are focusing on the homestretch too.

“I feel like I played well and played aggressive on defense too,” Hornsby said. “Our mindset is that we have to continue to go hard and show who we are and what we can do.”