Stagg prevails despite poor first half

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

It a was a battle of second-place teams in the SouthWest Suburban Red Tuesday, as Stagg celebrated Senior Night with a 49-39 victory over Thornwood, marking the eighth-straight win for the Chargers (20-5, 10-3) and clinching the second-place spot in conference.

"In my eight years, it's our sixth bridesmaid's finish," Stagg coach John Daniels said. "Finishing second to Thornton and being the only team to beat them, plus having the school's fourth 20-win season…it's big."

Stagg seniors Darius Draper (12 points, eight rebounds, five steals) and Dan Ahern (10 points) led the way for the Chargers.

Stagg came out cold, shooting 6 of 24 in the first half and headed to the locker room down 22-18. The third quarter belonged to the Chargers, as the squad shot 8 of 13 from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the three-point arc, while forcing seven Thornwood (14-11, 9-4) turnovers and outscoring the Thunderbirds 20-7 in the frame.

"We knew we were forcing shots in the first half," Draper said. "In the second half, we just slowed things down and found more open shots."

Thornwood made it a 42-36 game with just under three minutes left, but Stagg answered with a 6-0 run behind four points from Brett Kaiser and a basket from Scott Lyons (10 points) to seal it.

Darell Combs and Johnte Shannon each had nine points, while Khapri Alston added six points and 10 rebounds to lead Thornwood.

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