Boys Basketball: Matthews, Pils lead way as Libertyville edges Zee-Bees

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Updated: January 30, 2012 11:54PM

Ellis Matthews and Griffin Pils combined for 40 points as visiting Libertyville held off Zion-Benton 59-55 Tuesday in a North Suburban Confeerence Lake Division game.

Matthews had a team-high 23 points, including 16 in the third quarter. Pils added 17.

Sophomore standout Milik Yarbrough had 25 points for Zion-Benton (7-9 overall, 1-5 and last in the NSC Lake).

Libertyville (13-6 overall, 3-4 in the division) led 26-20 at halftime and, thanks to Matthews, was up 45-40 after three quarters.

Matthews had all but three of Libertyville’s third-quarter points, hitting 6-of-7 from the field, inclduing 4-for-4 from downtown.

In the fourth quarter, Z-B got within 55-53 on a three-pointer by Yarbrough with 1:50 left.

With 1:22 left, Matthews scored on a putback to make it a two-possesion game. And after a Z-B turnover, a Libertyville missed free throw and, a Zion miss, and another Libertyville missed free-throw, Yarbrough was fouled on a three-point shot.

He made two to make it 57-55 with 11 seconds left, but Libertyville avoided Zion’s pressure and attempts to foul, and Matthews scored on a layup before the final buzzer.

“It was a grinder game,” said Wildcats coach Scott Bogumil. “Typical Lake Division game on the road. It’s our first division road win, so we’ll take it.”

In the other locker room, Z-B veteran coach Don Kloth thought his team played well for its second outing after 29 days without a game.

“We fought back hard,” Kloth said. “We had some good shots down the stretch. We’re just trying to improve as a team and tonight, we took a step in the right direction.”

Senior center Curtis Cook had a nice game with 12 points and eight boards for Zion.