Lemont had a real challenge on its hands against visiting Sandburg on Tuesday.
There was a huge hole in the middle of the team where 6-7 senior Nate Ferguson, a Drake recruit, usually dominates. Ferguson scores, rebounds and opens things up for Lemont’s perimeter shooters.
“He’s a freak athlete,” Indians senior Jaxson Dian said. “He does everything for us. If we need a bucket we go to him. He’s very unselfish for a player as good as he is. That’s why the rest of us have been able to thrive from the three-point line.”
Ferguson was out sick, but Lemont displayed an unusually crisp offense for November. The Indians kept the ball moving and continually found the open shot to beat the Eagles 55-46.
Dian scored 18 and senior Billy Bozue added 17. Lemont found a way to win without its star.
“[Ferguson] makes it a lot easier for the rest of us,” Indians senior Billly Bozue said. “Whenever we get it inside to him it is easy to kick back out to us and get open looks. I was surprised we were able to do that without him.”
Lemont (3-2) had its hands full with Sandburg’s Marvin and Kevin Agwomoh. Marvin had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Kevin scored 15 and grabbed five boards.
Marvin Agwomoh, a 6-3 forward, had things his way in the post.
“It’s really difficult going against those guys,” Bozue said. “We are a much smaller team without Nate. We have one big guy compared to their three.”
Lemont led by 10 at halftime. The Eagles (3-2) cut the lead to three after three quarters but Bozue scored six points in an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter.
“It was a good team effort,” Bozue said. “This is a nice win for us.”
Kyle Lillwitz, a 6-4 junior, added nine points for the Indians and Benas Blaskevicius scored seven off the bench.
Lemont coach Rick Runaas has upgraded the schedule this season.
“It is a way tougher schedule,” Dian said. “We play Orr and Providence-St. Mel. It would be great to get a win in one of those games.”
