Boys Basketball: Downers South shuts down Oak Park-River Forest

Updated: December 3, 2011 8:54PM

Saturday night’s expected showdown between two of the Chicago area’s top guards never materialized.

Downers Grove South senior Jerron Wilbut did not dress and watched the game at Oak Park-River Forest from the bench. Bradley-bound  Ka’Darryl Bell of OPRF injured his right wrist just 2 1/3 minutes into the game. He attempted to come back, but could not play in the last three quarters.

With each team lacking firepower, it was No. 16 Downers South, which came out on top with a 54-44 victory over the No. 18 Huskies. Led by senior forward Kevin Honn’s season-high 15 points, the Mustangs had three scorers in double figures.

Mustangs coach Jay Baum said Wilbut was out due to a “coach’s decision,” but Wilbut would return for Downers South’s game at Morton next Friday. Wilbut scored a game-high 20 points, including 13 points in the fourth quarter, in DGS’ 58-46 win Friday night against Hinsdale South.

“Oak Park plays good defense. They changed their defense. As little as they scored, we scored more,” Baum said.

Downers South (5-1) outscored OPRF 12-8 in the second quarter when Bell was on the sideline and the Mustangs opened a 30-18 lead in the third quarter.

Oak Park coach Matt Maloney said Bell will have to have his wrist X-rayed. “He complained of a numb feeling,” Maloney said.

Bell injured his wrist after picking up a charging foul on a drive to the basket. He crashed to the floor and had his wrist taped by an athletic trainer. Bell returned with 2:57 to go in the first quarter, but then took himself out 21 seconds later.

He played the final 49.7 seconds of the first quarter, but could not return for the rest of the game and went scoreless in one shot attempt.

“He went out and that changed things,” Maloney said. “It could be a serious injury, but we hope it’s not. We need someone to step it up. We have a sign in our locker room: When you’re time comes, someone has to be ready.”

Senior forward Gabe Levin (seven rebounds) scored a game-high 22 points, but fouled out with 26 seconds to go for Oak Park (4-1). Jakari Cammon added 12 points for the Huskies.

The Mustangs shot 9-of-11 free throws in the fourth quarter, 12 of 15 for the game. Levin scored seven consecutive points for Oak Park to cut Downers South’s lead to 48-44 with 1:03 remaining, but the Mustangs answered with six points to end the game, including five by Jordan Cannon.

“We came here and it was a big win,” Honn said. “We gave them their first loss playing without Jerron. That’s tough because he gives us a lot of offense and defense.”

The Huskies shot only 1 of 8 from the floor in the first quarter and missed 10 consecutive shots in the first half until Levin’s driving layup with 5:30 to go in the second quarter. The basket pulled OPRF to within 12-9.

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