Quick start powers Titans past Phoenix

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:50AM

Tinley Park didn't miss much in the first quarter Monday night. When the Titans did, they were all over the glass creating second chances.

The hot shooting and board crashing added up to a whopping 28 first-quarter points as Tinley Park was on its way to a 66-48 win over Lincoln-Way North in Frankfort.

"We came out and ran them well," Tinley Park coach D.J. Brown said. "We pressed well, and when we got defensive rebounds we looked to run. It was a really nice first quarter."

Tony Core (10 rebounds) and Steve White (five rebounds) scored 15 points each and Jon Calhoun added seven points and 11 rebounds for the Titans (9-5). Lance Payne and Riley Pakosz scored 13 points each for Lincoln-Way North (6-12).

Tinley Park scored the first 11 points of the game as North struggled to get off shots against the Titans' trap defense. By the time Core closed the first-quarter scoring with a resounding dunk in the final seconds, Tinley Park led 28-9.

The Titans were 11-of-20 from the field in the period. White scored 10 points and Core had eight.

"We made sure we were prepared for this game," Core said. "We wanted to put pressure on them and when we get on the fast break, good things happen. We're stepping up. We've really been working on rebounding.

For Phoenix coach John Terry, the opening quarter extended a disturbing trend.

"We've had one good first quarter all year," he said. "We've been trying everything. We've been playing music in the locker room to try to get them fired up. At some point, it's got to change."

After White hit a three pointer to make it 15-4 just under five minutes into the game, the margin was never single digits again.

Trailing 38-19 at the half, North did cut it to 40-27 early in the third, after Pakosz hit a three and Lance Payne covered a three-point play. But that was as close as the Phoenix would get.

R.J. Arnott had seven points and five rebounds for the Phoenix. Cordero Rudder (five rebounds) and Tracey Brandy scored seven each for Tinley Park.

"Hopefully we're starting to play our best basketball," Brown said. "With the second half of the season starting, hopefully we're peaking at the right time."

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