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SD • Reporter/Progress Wednesday, January 23, 2013 WMP/DGR
SPORTS
Mustangs rebound after tough loss to Pirates By JASON ROSSI jrossi@shawmedia.com
Downers Grove South’s boys basketball team has a pair of West Suburban Gold conference road games this week followed by a home date against WSG heavyweight Morton Feb. 1. The Mustangs should be ready for anything the upcoming schedule throws at them. After all, the competition doesn’t come Next game much tougher Who: Downers than Proviso Grove South at East, which dealt Addison Trail South an 80-55 What: West defeat Saturday in Suburban Gold Downers Grove. boys basketball “Do I think When: 7:30 p.m. they’re 25 points Friday better than us? Where: Addison Absolutely not. I Trail High School, thought we were 213 N. Lombard going to win the Road, Addison game quite honestly,” South head coach Jay Baum said. “Credit to them. They played very well. Their defense is relentless and they executed on offense. So give credit where it’s due, but we could do better.” The Mustangs (8-7 overall, 4-2 in the WSG before Tuesday’s road game at Hinsdale South) trailed Proviso by 19 points in the first quarter after a slew of turnovers led to easy Proviso buckets early on. But South chipped away and made it a 41-35 contest midway through the third. Robert Mara provided a highlight with a thunderous dunk that excited the sizable home crowd. “We never give up at Downers South,” Baum said. “We play hard, we play good defense. I’m proud of the kids. We played hard and they didn’t give up. Proviso East made some good plays and we made some bad plays, and when you add it up that’s what you get. We’ll do better the next time we play them.” Mara scored 12 points while Scott McNellis and Jordan Cannon had 11 each. After facing the athletic Pirates, South should be well-prepared for Friday’s road game at Addison Trail and the looming date with Morton. Baum, however, wasn’t overlooking Tuesday’s game with Hinsdale South. “They’re a quality team. Their record does not reflect their talent,” the coach said of Hinsdale South. “Anytime you go on the road it’s difficult. AT, we beat them the first time, but they have some good shooters. We’re just taking it one game at a time.”
Downers Grove South’s Danny Spinuzza brings the ball up court against Proviso East on Saturday in Downers Grove. Photos by Colin McAuliffe — For Suburban Life Media
The Mustangs’ Tyler Pearson (middle) throws a pass to Kevin Hall.
Scott McNellis drives against Proviso East’s Carter Leroy Jevon.