Boys Basketball: Balancing act pays off for Andrew

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Jubril Adekoya, Andrew

Updated: February 16, 2012 8:21AM

Although one player — ultra-talented forward Jubril Adekoya — gets most of the attention, balance has been a key part of Andrew’s 12-0 start.

Four players reached double figures in scoring Friday night as the No. 1 Thunderbolts cruised past Thornridge 66-52 in a SouthWest Suburban Red game in Tinley Park.

“Jubril gets attention for good reason, but we wouldn’t be where we are now without six or seven guys that can give us big contributions,” Andrew coach Mike O’Halloran said. “It’s very surreal to be 12-0.”

Jubril Adekoya led the T-bolts (12-0, 5-0) with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Jawad Adekoya added 14 points for the T-bolts, Tyler Hook scored 12 off the bench, and Alex Zappavigna had 10.

Antonio Woods scored a game-high 17 points for Thornridge (6-10, 1-4).

The Falcons hung tough for 11/2 quarters before Andrew closed the second quarter on a 13-0 run to take a commanding 35-17 lead to the break.

Jawad Adekoya had five points during the surge. The T-bolts outscored the visitors 17-4 in the second quarter, burning them in transition to produce a bevy of layups.

“Scouting (the Falcons), we knew they do a tremendous job crashing the offensive boards,” O’Halloran said. “But when they don’t get it, that gives us a chance to get down the floor before they get back and we tried to take advantage of that.”

Jubril Adekoya scored eight points in the third quarter as Andrew led by as many as 19.

“We just came out well as a team,” he said. “We didn’t finish well, though. It’s exciting to be undefeated, but we still have about half the conference season and then the playoffs left. If we lose focus now, we really haven’t accomplished anything.”

Andrew finished 29-of-53 from the field while Thornridge was 21-of-51.

Gene Jackson (8 rebounds) had 14 points and Tommy Green 10 for the Falcons.