Thursday, January 27, 2011

published: 1/25/2011 12:01 AM

Big bounce-back win for Harper

The Harper College men’s basketball team opened what could be considered their toughest week of the season Tuesday night as the Hawks hosted rival College of DuPage, with No. 2-ranked Joliet on the schedule Thursday.

Both Harper and DuPage came into Tuesday’s contest hoping to change their fortunes.

The Chaparrals started the season ranked 10th in the NJCAA Division III poll but have dropped two of their last three games. The Hawks were trying to get past the effects of a 63-62 loss at Triton on Saturday, when with six-tenths of a second left, the Hawks were called for a foul that allowed Triton to go to the free-throw line and win the game there.

Tuesday’s result will make it easier for the Hawks to forget about Saturday, as Harper rolled past DuPage 83-54.

Harper freshman Garrett Gatz (Conant) had been struggling from the field at home this season in conference play, but he finished with a team-high 17 points, all in the first half.

“We were open for open shots (in transistion) so I could knock them down,” Gatz said.

Of Gatz’s 6 field goals, 5 were 3-pointers.

After not playing in the Hawks’ last home game, a loss to Madison College, forward Wes Wilcox (Lake Park) was back in the mix and ended up with 16 points. Kemill Long (Hoffman Estates) had 10 points, 8 of which came in the first half.

The Hawks (16-6, 3-4) were able to hold DuPage (13-8, 3-4) to 30 points in the first half. Gatz called the Hawks’ defensive effort “solid.”

Shonnon Barfield gave the Hawks a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points. He called it “a great effort overall.”
 
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