Hurricanes hang on

Marian Central's Jacob Tonkin puts up a shot during the second half of Friday's game against St. Francis. Marian won, 56-52. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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WOODSTOCK – The manner in which Marian Central closed its game against St. Francis was less than exemplary.

The Hurricanes committed seven turnovers and made 2 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter. Their play before that, however, provided an ample lead, one they were able to protect for a 56-52 victory Friday night in their Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division boys basketball game.

“We all wanted it so bad, we came out harder than we usually do,” Marian forward Jacob Tonkin said. “We knew this was a deciding game.”

Marian (17-7 overall, 5-1 SCC Blue) can win at least a share of the division title with road victories against Marmion and Chicago Christian.

“We came out fired up,” guard Danny Noonan said. “We wanted to break a sweat in warmups because when we played at their place, we got down 15-2 and put ourselves in a hole right away. We knew we had to get this one.”

Tonkin scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the first half as Marian harassed St. Francis (7-13, 4-1) in to 7 of 27 shooting and 13 turnovers. The Hurricanes led, 32-18, at halftime.

“The defense was outstanding,” Marian coach Curtis Price said. “That’s the way we like to play, really getting after people. When we do that, our defense triggers our offense and we’re much better.”

The Spartans looked like a different team in the second half, hitting seven of their first nine shots. St. Francis coach Shawn Healy thought the difference came down to one simple aspect.

“In the first half we couldn’t hang on to the ball,” Healy said. “We were passing and catching the ball better [in the second half]. We got good looks, and we were finishing. They’re a good team, and you just can’t do that on their home court. We dug ourselves too big of a hole in the first half.”

St. Francis was 9 of 13 from the field in the third quarter to cut the lead to 46-37. Marian hit enough shots to keep it a two-possession lead throughout the fourth quarter, but it did get tight late when the Spartans’ pressure defense came up with turnovers.

“I kind of got a little concerned because they kept coming back and we couldn’t hit anything,” Tonkin said. “It got too close.”

Noonan finished with 14 points, Jake Everly scored 12, and Ben Krol added 11 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Coyle led St. Francis with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Larry Murison scored 15 points.

“Our first half was great,” Price said. “I think we got a little tired, and I didn’t take my guards out. But I love the effort we gave, we just kept fighting.”