Boys Basketball: OPRF takes control of conference with resounding win over Hilltoppers

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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:17PM

Oak Park-River Forest played like a conference champion Wednesday night.

The Huskies played up to their potential and then some in routing Glenbard West 81-54 in Oak Park to put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.

OPRF (14-4, 6-1) has a two-game lead in the loss column over Glenbard West, Lyons Township and York with five league games remaining.

“That has been our best game by far,” OPRF coach Matt Maloney said. “The best effort, the best focus. That’s what we need to do down the stretch to be a special team and possibly pull away in the conference.”

The Huskies pulled away early with a 15-0 run to take a 22-7 lead late in the first quarter. The hosts were on fire from the perimeter and were dominant in the paint, led by 6-7 senior forward Gabe Levin.

Levin completely shut down the Hilltoppers’ big front line and enjoyed a starring role at both ends. He finished with 20 points, including a dunk, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.

“I think a lot of respect goes out to Coach Maloney for getting us ready for the game and I think we were just prepared really well and had a lot of energy,” Levin said. “It was definitely fun because it was such a fast-paced game and that’s what we like to do. And everyone contributed.”

Indeed, seven players scored in the first half as OPRF sprinted out to a 47-27 halftime lead. The Huskies didn’t let up, extending their advantage to 71-42 after a third quarter which saw OPRF sink 10 of 15 shots. Levin had nine points in that quarter while Ka’Darryl Bell, Jakari Cammon and Alex Nesnidal all made two baskets before Maloney cleared his bench.

“Those guys came out with such energy and such inspiration and focus,” Maloney said. “It wasn’t just bodies flying around. It was within our system and everyone was scoring, everyone was contributing in their own way.

“One thing we haven’t done is play all four quarters and play every possession like it’s our last, and for that first half you would have thought that game was in the final minute and we were scratching and clawing.”

Bell finished with 16 points and five assists for OPRF, which drained 9 of 15 three-point attempts through three quarters and finished 31 of 70 overall from the floor. Nesnidal added 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting and Cammon tallied nine points.

Reserve guard Egan Montgomery led the Hilltoppers (13-5, 5-3) with 13 points and Justin Taylor added 10 points. But Glenbard West’s front line of 6-8 Pat Mazza, 6-6 Matt Mache and 6-6 Mike Mache combined for only 14 points and six rebounds as Oak Park won the rebounding battle 42-21.

“I thought (Oak Park) played great,” Glenbard West coach Tim Hoder said. “They had the energy. They shot the ball well. They pressured us and got us to turn the ball over. They beat us in every aspect.”