HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC

HC SQUARED:  Building a New Tradition of Basketball at Its Best
 

2021 GAME SIX RECAP: OSWEGO EAST vs. ROCKFORD AUBURN

Box Score

HINSDALE, Ill. – Oswego East maintained its perfect start to the season with a 56-38 triumph over Rockford Auburn in game six of the 2021 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.

The opening quarter played out evenly with the score tied at 12-12. The Knights took advantage of their second chances with eight points in that category. While both sides shot well in the second quarter, the Wolfpack put up seven more shots in the period and reaped the benefits. A 10-0 run was spurred by Mason Blanco, who tallied five points off the bench in that time to put his team up 28-17. Rockford Auburn's Adrian Agee canned a pair of treys to pull the game within 28-23. But Blanco scored the final five points of the half to give Oswego East a 33-25 advantage at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Wolfpack strengthened its grip on the contest with a 12-0 run over the next 7+ minutes. By the time Rockford Auburn could respond, they were trailing by 20.

Down 47-31 going into the fourth quarter, the Knights ended up taking nine more shots than their opponents. But only three of their 15 field goal attempts found pay dirt, and Oswego East finished off the win by 18 points.

The Wolfpack made 48.9 percent of their field goals, 38.5 percent of their three-point tries (5-13) and 70 percent of their free throws (7-10). Blanco tallied a game-high 16 points with three steals. Darren Oregon submitted 11 points and four assists, Mekhi Lowery collected nine points, nine rebounds and three steals. Oswego East narrowly held sway in rebounding (33-31) and turnovers (12-14).

The Knights shot 28.8 percent from the field, 25 percent from beyond the arc (7-28) and 16.7 percent from the free throw line (1-6). Agee made four treys and finished with 14 points. Brennan Horton Lee posted 10 points, while Michael Jones had nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

Oswego East (12-0 record) will next play Marian Catholic in Thursday’s quarterfinal at 7:00 p.m. Rockford Auburn (9-3 record) will take on Richards in the consolation bracket on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.