Bloom moves past Lemont thanks to dominant third period

Bloom had a good but not great first half Saturday.

The Blazing Trojans saved their best for the third quarter.

Holding a ten-point lead, Bloom unleashed its pressure defense and created a huge third-quarter run that led to a 67-55 win over Lemont at Saturday’s Crete-Monee Shootout.

“Our coaches told us to come out and set the tone early,” Bloom’s Jared Johnson said. “Just don’t let up.”

After a Mickhiell Harris bucket on a pass from James Coleman, Jordan scored two quick baskets of his own, one a steal and drive inside, the next an offensive rebound putback as Bloom scored six points in less than a minute to start the third period.

Coleman’s basket in the post and two Dalvin Echols (10 points) free throws capped the extended 12-0 run over the second and third quarters.

Johnson also scored eight of his game-high 21 points in the third period.

“We’re looking inside first, always,” Johnson said. “We’ve got the big man, James, so we look to him.”

Lemont never cut the deficit to single digits again, but hot-shooting Mike Wisz, David Czupta, and Spencer Nelson helped make Bloom work for the win.

“Lemont is a good shooting team, and we watched the tape, knew they’d be coming off screens, shooting and making a lot of jump shots,” Johnson said.

“We tried to get a hand in their face, mess them up and alter their shot.”

Wisz finished with 18 points for Lemont (6-4), Luis Marquez, Ryan Shereck and Nelson adding eight points apiece for the Indians.

“We let it get away from us a little bit,” Lemont coach Rick Runaas said. “Our defensive intensity just wasn’t able to match what Bloom did offensively. Mike (Wisz) wants to win, and he and the team responded (late).”