Lincoln-Way West falls to Thornwood

Updated: March 28, 2011 12:28PM

The Lincoln-Way West boys basketball team has learned a lot in its first two years of varsity competition, especially this year in the Warriors' first season with a senior class. But no matter what they have learned they still could not find the answer to counter Thornwood junior post player Khapri Alston Friday night.

The 6-3 Alston capped off a streak of five straight games with 20 or more points by exploding for a career-best 34 in the SouthWest Suburban Conference Red 67-50 win over Lincoln-Way West at Thornwood.

Alston controlled the game from start to finish. He scored the contest's first four points and had 11 in the opening period as Thornwood (12-9, 8-3) took a 17-13 lead after the first quarter of play. West (6-18, 3-7) limited Alston to just 6 points in the second quarter and the Warriors enjoyed their best eight minutes of play as they charged back from what had been a seven-point deficit to take a 30-29 lead at the intermission.

"We struggled against the big guy all night," said West coach Eric Long after the game, "and made some adjustments at halftime. We tried to pressure their guards and keep the ball away from Alston but they handled the pressure very well and the big guy got even easier shots than he did in the first half.

"Looking back now," said Long, "I wish we would have played him the same way as we did in the first half. We might have had a better chance in the second half."

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