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Hinsdale South’s Mitchell wins first against old school
Hinsdale South's Jerry Stoltz pushes past Sandburg's John Copple and Niko Cahue at Hinsdale South High School in Darien November 23, 2012 | James C. Svehla~for Sun-Times Media
DON’T MISS
FridayBoys basketball: vs. Willowbrook, 7:30 p.m.
First-year boys basketball coach Tanner Mitchell guides the Hornets for their West Suburban Gold opener against Willowbrook (2-2), which has already avoided a repeat of last year’s 1-9 start. The Warriors are led by Stagg all-tournament selections Joshua Joiner and Tiger Greene. South’s Jerry Stoltz has 28 points in his last two games.
SaturdayBoys bowling: Parkside Lanes, 9 a.m.
Liam McGowan and George Krstev help fuel the Hornets at the Oswego East Invitational in Aurora in a field that also includes Lyons from the West Suburban Conference. The Hornets finished 17th in each of their first two tournaments, at Lake Park and Plainfield North.
Updated: December 30, 2012 3:27PM
DARIEN — Tanner Mitchell saw the irony that his first win as Hinsdale South’s new boys basketball coach came against his high school alma mater.
Mitchell’s Hornets beat Sandburg 48-43 Friday in the second round of the Hinsdale South Thanksgiving tournament. His former varsity coach at Sandburg, Randy Voels, sat on the opposing bench. Mitchell graduated in 1996 and went on to play for Carthage College.
After Mitchell finished high school, Voels stepped away as head coach only to return recently as the assistant to current coach Todd Allen. Mitchell also played for Allen on the Sandburg underlevels.
“I was glad to get my first win,” Mitchell said. “It was bittersweet. I know those guys (coaching there). The guys were great at the end of the game.”
Mitchell, 34, played three varsity seasons for Sandburg and was a varsity assistant there from 2003-06. He also was a freshman coach at Lemont before arriving at Hinsdale South.
Mitchell was much more pleased about the Hornets’ effort in a 60-54 loss to eventual tournament champion De La Salle on Saturday. Jerry Stoltz, Hinsdale South’s only returning starter, scored a team-high 15 points after collecting 13 against Sandburg.
“I’m proud of my kids. They played huge in games against two top-notch teams in Hinsdale Central and De La Salle,” Mitchell said.
Hinsdale South actually owned a seven-point lead over De La Salle (3-0) in the third quarter, but the Meteors rallied in the fourth quarter.
“It was a great game,” Mitchell said. “The kids played their hearts out.”
Mitchell has received major contributions from D.J. Deolitsis, Joe George and Tyler Zampa off the bench. Zampa, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, missed the season-opening, 73-62 loss to Central due to illness, but was able to return for the two games after Thanksgiving.
Hinsdale South could meet Sandburg again. The Eagles agreed to return for the second annual Hinsdale South Holiday Tournament from Dec. 26-29.
The Hornets (1-2) open the West Suburban Gold at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Willowbrook (2-2).
