Sports

Boys Basketball: Adekoya Sets Rebound Record as Andrew Takes Down Sandburg

Andrew 53, Sandburg 43: Jubril Adekoya scored 18 points and pulled down 16 rebounds as the Thunderbolts notched their 20th win on Tuesday night. Adekoya pushed his rebound total to 230 and set a single-season school record.

The Skinny: Jubril Adekoya turned in a monster performance, and Andrew added another monster achievement to its body of work in a 53-43 boys basketball victory over district rival Sandburg Tuesday night at the Thunderdome in Tinley Park. Adekoya produced game-high totals of 18 points and 16 rebounds. He pushed his rebound total to 230 and set a single-season record as the T-Bolts chalked up win No. 20 for the second time in their 35-year school history. Adekoya made 8-of-9 free throws and put the exclamation on a 7-2 finishing run for Andrew with a two-hand dunk.

Patch’s MVP: Jubril Adekoya, 6-6, junior forward, Andrew. Adekoya threw his weight around under the basket in a fierce battle with Sandburg’s Ken Payonk, Malek Harris and Joe Kuligoski. Adekoya snared six of his game-high 16 rebounds in the first quarter. His outlet passing helped trigger the T-Bolts’ fastbreak.

Key Moments: Andrew, with Adekoya dominating the boards, was able to push the tempo in the early going and built leads  of 11-2 and 19-6. Mike Bobek capped a 9-2 scoring run for the T-Bolts to end the first half. He hit a pair of free throws after Payonk was called for a technical foul with no time on the clock. Andrew went to the locker room with a 28-18 lead. Sandburg slowed the pace in the second half and slowly crawled back into the ballgame behind the inside work of Harris and Payonk. Andrew fought through the Eagles’ screens and kept Sandburg from hitting a single 3-pointer. The T-Bolts made 18-of-21 free throws.

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Sandburg Leaders: Nick Lehnerer (12 points, 10 in the first half), Joe Kuligoski (10 points, 2 rebounds), Ken Payonk (8 points, 8 rebounds), Brian Dace (7 points, 3 rebounds), Malek Harris (6 points, all in the fourth quarter, 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot).

Andrew Leaders: Jubril Adekoya (18 points, 16 rebounds, 1 blocked shot), Glorind Lisha (11 points, 6-of-8 free throws, 1 3-pointer), Mike Bobek (10 points, 4 assists, 0 turnovers), Tyler Hook (6 points, 4 rebounds).

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Quotable I: “Oh, it was huge for us,” Andrew’s Jubril Adekoya said. “They’re a good team. They played real tough. We just had to match their intensity. And, you know the rivalry deal, they were yapping. We were yapping back and forth. It feels good to walk out with the ‘W.’ ”

Quotable II: “A milestone? I would think so,” Andrew coach Mike O’Halloran said of winning 20 games. “Two times in 35 years, I’d say so. It feels great.”

Team Records: Andrew is 20-1. Sandburg had a three-game win streak snapped and slipped to 12-10.

What’s Next: Sandburg plays at Homewood-Flossmoor at 7 p.m. Friday. Andrew travels to Dolton to take on Thornridge at 6 p.m. Friday.


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