On Tuesday night, the Lake Forest Men’s Varsity Basketball Team (18-8, 8-4) took a short bus ride to Libertyville to take on the rival Wildcats (14-12, 4-8). The Scouts came out victorious thanks to their great defensive efforts with a final score of 26-23; the lowest scoring Scouts game this season.
The Scouts’ defense was anchored by 6 ’10 senior center Grant Mordini. The big man had seven blocks and 15 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. The Scouts shut down the Wildcats’ three point shot, limiting them to just two threes all game. Mordini’s presence down low gave comfort to perimeter defenders as layup attempts were continuously swatted. Junior guard Dominic Mordini was the second leading scorer with seven points.
The Scouts started off slow, similar to the last matchup against Libertyville. Chasing six points early may not seem like a lot, but the score was 9-3 midway through the second quarter. The Scouts’ work on the defensive end kept them in a game as the offense was not scoring at the regular rate. The Scouts are making their defensive identity clear, and things are clicking at the right time with playoffs right around the corner.
“I feel like our team plays with a chip on our shoulder each game,” said Dominic Mordini. “Our preparation in the film room and in practice is a reason we have been playing such good ball. We trust in each other and have confidence that we can win games.”
The Scouts gained a seven point lead early in the third quarter and never lost the lead after. However, the game still came down to the wire. Lake Forest was leading 24-23 with the ball in Libertyville’s hands and less than 30 seconds left on the clock. Dominic Mordini took a huge charge to give possession back to the Scouts. Grant Mordini got fouled and made both free throws to put the Scouts ahead by three. The Cats had a chance to tie as time expired, but the Scouts’ defense prevailed.
“The seniors knew it was their last time playing Libertyville and that motivated us enough to not lose that game,” said Grant Mordini.
The Scouts completed the sweep for the second year in a row, increasing their win streak to four against the Wildcats. The Scouts return to action Friday night at Mundelein with a chance to even the season series and continue their push for North Suburban Conference Champions.
