Luckily, OPRF basketball coach Al Allen is also a math teacher because he and the Huskies certainly need to problem solve after two disappointing losses over the weekend.
Coming off a 56-55 loss at York on Friday night, the Huskies returned home Saturday only to fall again to Lyons Township 68-60. Off to a shaky 5-4 start, including a 1-2 West Suburban (Silver) Conference mark, the highly-regarded Huskies aren’t exactly in panic mode, but a trip back to the drawing board seems unanimous among the ranks.
The Huskies trailed LT virtually the entire game with the exception of a pair of three pointers from Iman Shumpert that twice knotted the game at 30-30 and also at 55-55 with 1:37 remaining on the clock.
After Shumpert’s second clutch game-tying trey, the Lions regained the momentum, outscoring OPRF 13-5 the rest of the way to secure the conference win.
Taking nothing away from the red hot Lions (7-0, 3-0), who Allen mentioned as a serious conference contender during the preseason, he couldn’t help but question the officiating-particularly on Shumpert.
Although the Georgia Tech-bound Shumpert netted a game-high 25 points (17 in the second half) the Lions implemented a clutch and grab approach in the estimation of Allen to contain his explosive swingman.
“I’ve never had a superstar and seen what [LT] was able to get away with defensively off the ball,” Allen said. “As coaches, we go to rules interpretations meetings which are supposed to put an emphasis on cleaning up the game. [Tonight] when Iman was off the ball, he was getting mugged.”
Trailing 29-22 at the half, the Huskies picked up their defensive pressure, causing seven LT turnovers in the third quarter. Shumpert capped off a 7-2 spurt with a spectacular breakaway dunk that whittled LT’s lead to 40-39 at the end of the period.
The Lions extended their lead to 51-44 midway through the fourth quarter before Shumpert scored eight of the Huskies’ next 11 points to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining.
Ed Viliunas (20 points, 6 rebounds) scored a pair of baskets to ignite LT’s decisive game-ending run. Six-foot-8, 270-pound center Jeff Adams (10 points) and 6-6 forward Matt Hirt (15 points, 9 rebounds) also played well for the Lions.
“I know coach Allen is talking to some of the starters to try and figure out what’s going on,” said OPRF guard Marcus Acree. “Our bench also needs to play better.”
The Huskies visit Downers Grove North Friday (7:30 p.m.) and host St. Charles North Saturday (5 p.m.).
“We’ve only lost two conference games and we know we’re a talented team,” Austin said. “It’s not over for us.”
