Boys Basketball: Barrington now chasing Schaumburg in league race

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Barrington Friday, 1/20/12 Barrington's Scott Nelson (12) and Schaumburg's Jimmy Lundquist scramble for a loose ball during the first quarter of Friday evening's game. Schaumburg beat Barrington, 49-46. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:50AM

After two grueling games against MSL West rival Schaumburg — a one-point win in December and a three-point loss Friday night — Barrington’s boys basketball team needs a little help from the rest of the league in order to erase the Saxons’ one-game lead in the conference race.

Both teams carried matching 4-1 league records into the game. And again, Schaumburg clung to a one-point lead with less than 10 seconds to play.

Unlike Barrington’s buzzer-beating win at Schaumburg last month, the Saxons were able to deny Broncos point guard Brad Zaumseil on two last-second attempts under the basket on Friday.

Schaumburg then sealed the 49-46 win, after two game-clinching free throws, to take control of the MSL West — for now.

“We felt like we were real fortunate when we walked out of Schaumburg (with a win last month),” Broncos coach Bryan Tucker said. “So we knew we had to play a much better game (Friday night).”

The Broncos came out strong on the back of senior Mark Bennett’s seven-point first quarter. Five points from John Schneider in the second quarter staked Barrington to a one-point lead at the half.

“We all knew it was a big game,” Schneider said. “Everyone was really pumped coming into it.”

While the margin never grew beyond five points through three quarters, it appeared Schaumburg (14-4, 5-1) would eventually cruise to victory after a 14-4 explosion to open the fourth quarter.

Schaumburg senior Christian Spandiary (game-high 17 points) and junior Jimmy Lundquist (10 points) sparked the Saxons’ fourth-quarter run. Each connected on three-pointers, and hoops in the lane, to rack up a quick 10 points.

“We had a critical two-to-three minute stretch early in the fourth quarter where they got very comfortable looks inside and out,” Tucker said. “It was just one of those things. We had a lapse and it just snowballed. We had a breakdown where they got the ball into the post, then we had a breakdown where they get an offensive rebound. We had a breakdown where we don’t rotate and they get an uncontested three. I mean — bam! They are just to good to give them many comfortable looks.”

Barrington (12-7, 4-2) mounted a late rally, closing within a point, but couldn’t convert on three last-second chances. Saxons junior Kyle Bolger then closed out Barrington with two free throws, finishing the game with 13 points.

Despite scoring a season-high 11 points after missing most of the year with a hand injury, Barrington senior John Schneider left the gym Friday night disappointed by missed opportunities, including a late stretch of missed free throws.

“I definitely can’t be missing free throws like that,” he said. “That will definitely be a focus point this whole week. I hate missing free throws like that knowing that we lost by such a small margin, and knowing we could have won if I made those. It’s definitely a big motivator.”

Barrington produced a balanced scoring attack on Friday. Bennett and Zaumseil both matched Schneider’s 11 points to lead the Broncos.

“After their run, we got back to our game, but we just couldn’t overcome that lead,” Bennett said. “I really respect Schaumburg — they have a lot good players. But we are very similar teams, and I think that showed in both games we played this season.”

The Broncos’ next attempt to catch the Saxons starts when they host Conant Friday night.

“I hope we still have a shot,” Bennett said. “All we can do is control the games we play, and win those games and see what happens.”

Added Tucker: “Schaumburg has to go out and hold serve, if you will. They need to take care of their business, too.”