Sports
Sandburg, Viane Surge Past Downers Grove North
Senior guard Jason Viane scores 24 points in the Eagles' first-round victory at the Lemont Christmas Classic.
Jason Viane was at Hinsdale South a year ago when Sandburg lost its opening game in the Lemont Christmas Classic.
On Monday, he was everywhere Sandburg needed him to be.
Viane scored a game-high 24 points, including 10 during the Eagles' 16-0 third-quarter run that broke the game wide open, to lead Sandburg past Downers Grove North, 49-35.
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"I feel like I have to step up both offensively and defensively with no returning starters (from last year)," said Viane, a 6-foot-4 senior guard. "We knew we had to come out strong and I think we did that and went all out all the way to the buzzer."
Sandburg (5-4) led 27-21 midway through the third quarter when Viane took over. First he scored off an inbounds play. Then, after Adam Davids split a pair of free throws, Viane had a steal and a dunk, a layup, a pair of free throws and another bucket off an inbounds play.
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"I thought he adjusted well and got to the rim," Sandburg coach Todd Allen said. "He's a strong kid and he finished well around the rim. I thought he did a nice job."
As young as the Eagles are, they adjusted well, especially during set plays, including a handful of inbounds plays that resulted in easy baskets.
"I think the guys did a real nice job of reading defenses," Allen said. "It wasn't always getting it to the primary guy, either, but seeing whoever was cheating, recognizing it and then doing a nice job getting the ball to the right guy. It's still a work in a progress, but the guys are getting better."
Downers Grove North (5-6) finally ended Sandburg's 16-0 run with a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter, but Sandburg's lead was a comfortable 43-24.
"I thought we got some easy run-outs and threw ahead nicely in transition," Allen said. "We wanted an up-tempo game. We wanted to get up and down the floor a little bit, and for the most part we did a good job."
Viane was the only scorer in double figures for the Eagles, who had nine different players in the scoring column. Ken Payonk had six points and Joe Kuliogiski had five, including the team's only three-pointer.
Sandburg resumes tournament play on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. against the winner of Plainfield Central/Argo.
