Boys Frosh Basketball - 2007-08
2/9/08 - Lisle Tournament
We played the Seneca Fighting Irish in our Lisle Tournament semifinal game this morning. Both teams struggled early, but we held a 12-9 halftime lead. Using a balanced second half attack, TC was able to secure a 32-20 victory. Troy Ellens scored 8 points and had 7 rebounds. Mark Penczak also scored 8 and snared 5 boards. Mike led the defense with 4 steals.
The afternoon Lisle Tournament championship game against the Dwight Trojans was similar to our game with Illiana last night. Led by Mark Penczak’s 15 points, we held a 27-13 halftime lead. Once again, we struggled to score in the third quarter and Dwight cut the lead to 9 at the end of that period. The fourth stanza was a battle. We made 10-14 FT (Nate Boot 4-4 FT) to hold on for a 51-46 victory to bring home the championship hardware.
Penczak finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Mike Pizzello had 10 points and 9 rebounds. Troy Ellens also scored 10. Chad Vos was the steals leader with 5.
We finished our season 19 wins and 5 losses (5-3 P.S.L.)
2/8/08 - vs. Illiana - W-40-34
We hosted the PSL first place Illiana Vikings tonight. Led by Chad Vos’ 7 first quarter points, the Trojans jumped out to a 17-7 lead. We were able to extend that lead to 23-11 at halftime. The Vikings turned the tables in the second half outscoring us 29-11 and leaving Elmhurst with a 40-34 victory. Eight players scored for the freshmen with Vos’ 7 points leading the way. Chad also chipped in with 5 assists and 4 steals. Nate Ziegler grabbed 6 rebounds.
2/5/08 - vs. Montini - W-54-25
We jumped out to an 11-4 first quarter lead against the Montini Broncos tonight and led the game from beginning to end. The final score was 54-25. It was a great effort with unselfish play from all. Within that team framework, Troy Ellens had a terrific overall night...17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Nathan Boot scored 14 points (6-7 FG). Mike Pizzello had a stellar floor game...7 steals, 6 assists, and 0 turnovers. Chad Vos dished out 3 assists and had 3 baskets. Nate Ziegler also scored 6 points and helped out on the boards with 5 rebounds.
2/2/08 - vs. Sandwich - W-43-28
Against a good Sandwich team, we jumped out to a 15-2 first quarter lead in the first game of the Lisle Tournament. The Indians fought back, but we were able to suppress each attack. Final result was a 43-28 victory for the Trojans. Mike Pizzello scored 12 points, snared 4 boards, and had 4 steals. Troy Ellens was a monster on the boards snaring 13 errant shots. An important part of the game was 11-15 shooting from the charity stripe...by far our best FT percentage of the year.
1/31/08 - vs. Walther Lutheran - L-53-52
A very good freshman basketball game was played in Melrose Park tonight...Timothy battling Walther Lutheran. We had a strong first quarter to jump out to a 7-point lead. The Broncos cut the lead to 5 at halftime. The second half was a back and forth affair...but Walther ended up on top 53-52. Four players scored in double figures for the Trojans. Chad Vos (12 points), Nathan Boot (11), Troy Ellens (11) and Mike Pizzello (10) led the offensive attack. Nathan Ziegler had 3 key buckets in the second half. Vos also contributed 5 steals on the defensive end.
1/26/08 - vs. Wheaton Academy -
We lost by 10 (47-37) to the Warriors of Wheaton Academy this afternoon. Connecting on 5 triples in the first half, the Warriors led by 4 at halftime. We made a few runs in the second half, but could never quite catch up. Nathan Boot led us in scoring with 12 points and also chipped in with 5 rebounds. Mike Pizzello scored 9 (6 rebounds) and Troy Ellens 8 (8 boards).
Led by Mike Arce’s 11 points and 10 rebounds, the “B” team left the gym with a 38-37 victory. Daniel Ireland contributed 9 points (8 boards) and Peter Matthews 7.
1/19/08 - vs. Holland Christian - W-44-38
We played a tough team from Holland (MI) Christian tonight. This was our third game in six days and we started out a little sluggish against the tall, aggressive Maroons and trailed 22-19 at the halftime break. At the end of the third quarter, we had taken a one-point lead. During the fourth stanza, we swished 5 of 7 from the charity stripe and were able to extend the lead to a final score of 44-38. After being held to 6 points in the first half, Troy Ellens finished with 17. He also grabbed 7 rebounds. Mike Pizzello chipped in with 10 points, 5 steals, and 4 rebounds. Peter Matthews and Nathan Boot also a good job on the boards by snaring 5 rebounds each.
1/18/08 - vs. Aurora Christian - W-41-25
We once again played a great team game and came away with a 41-25 victory on the home court of the Aurora Christian Eagles. The Trojans opened up a 14-6 1st quarter lead. The Eagles battled back to cut the lead to 3 (22-19) at halftime. After some minor adjustments, the Trojans turned up the defensive pressure in the 2nd half, outscoring Aurora 19-6. Troy Ellens and Mike Pizzello were a big part of that defensive pressure with 5 and 4 steals respectively…both also added 5 rebounds. Nathan Boot had his best game of the season. He led the team in scoring with 15 points (7-10 FG), 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Pizzello chipped in with 11 points. Kevin Hansberger swished 2 key three-pointers and along with Chad Vos put good defensive pressure on the Eagles guards.
1/14/08 - vs. York - W-42-30
The freshman cagers battled the Dukes of York and came away 42-30 winners. At the beginning of the game we were a little unfocused, but kept working hard and held a two-point advantage at the end of the quarter. Troy Ellens led the way in the first quarter scoring 10 points. Troy finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds. At the halfway point, we held a 22-14 lead. The Dukes battled back in the 3rd quarter to cut our lead to 5, but we took control in the 4th quarter to secure the victory. Nathan Boot chipped in with 11 points, 7 boards, and 4 blocked shots. Chad Vos dished out 5 assists and also stepped in to take to 2 charges. Mike Pizzello also handed out 5 assists and led the team with 3 steals. Nathan Ziegler, Kevin Hansberger and Peter Matthews also contributed to this big victory.
York triumphed over the outsized Trojans in the “B” game 54-29. Mike Arce scored 11 points and had 5 rebounds to lead the team. Denzel Teague had 3 steals on the defensive end.
1/11/08 - vs. Luther South - W-52-34
The Luther South Braves visited Timothy tonight. When the final buzzer sounded, we had secured a 52-34 victory. Troy Ellens was the scoring leader with 18 points. Troy also had 13 rebounds. Jon Penczak was 6-10 from the field to finish with 12 points. Nathan Boot chipped in with 6 rebounds. On the defensive end, Mike Pizzello had 5 steals.
1/8/08 - vs. Montini - W-43-35
We returned to the hardwood tonight with a game against the Montini Broncos in Lombard. We were rusty after a two-week Christmas layoff and the Broncos stampeded out to a 14-7 first quarter lead. We narrowed the deficit to 21-18 at halftime and then outscored Montini 17-4 in the 3rd quarter. Troy Ellens and Chad Vos each swished two free shots in the last quarter as the Trojans held on for a 43-35 victory. Mark Penczak was the scoring leader with 15 points. Troy Ellens and Jon Penczak each snared 5 errant shots. Nathan Boot protected the lane by blocking 4 Bronco shots. Mike Pizzello again led the team in steals with 4 and also had 5 assists. Loyal fan, Lenore Tazelaar, avoided serious injury when she was hit in the face by a Pizzello bullet pass. Pizzello said, “Coach...she was open!”
Geoff Weber scored 17 points to lead us in the “B” game, but we came out on the wrong of a 58-37 score. Mike Arce grabbed 7 rebounds and had 4 steals. Denzel Teague also was tough on the defensive end with 5 steals.
12/20/07 - vs. Aurora Central Catholic - W-56-40
Another road game brought us to Aurora tonight to face a good Aurora Central Catholic team. After an even 1st quarter, we outscored ACC 24-6 in the 2nd quarter to take a 36-16 lead into the locker room. But Aurora “charged” back to cut the lead to 8 points at the end of the 3rd. The Trojans regained their composure and repelled the “charge” in the 4th quarter. The game ended with the Trojans on the topside of a 56-40 victory. Mike Pizzello led us on the offensive and defensive ends with 14 points and 10 steals. Troy Ellens added 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. Nathan Boot and Jon Penczak had 8 and 7 rebounds respectively. Nate Ziegler was a key component in our 2nd quarter spurt by scoring 6 points. After being out of competition for about a month, Mark Penczak came off the bench to score 13 points, including 7-8 from the charity stripe.
In the “B” game, we were on the short end of a 33-24 final score. After being behind 9 at the end of the 1st quarter, we battled back to take a 19-18 lead in the 3rd quarter. ACC regained control and gradually pulled away to the final score. Mike Arce led the team in scoring with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Chad Vos, in his first major playing time of the season, snared 5 rebounds.
12/18/07 - vs. Westmont - W-36-27
We took a short trip to Westmont tonight. The Sentinels protected their court well in the 1st half, and headed into the locker room with an 18-16 halftime lead. The freshman came out of the locker room on the offensive and outscored Westmont 10-3 in the 3rd quarter. This broke the siege and gave the Trojans a lead they never relinquished. The final score wasTimothy Christian 36, Westmont 27. Nathan Ziegler and Mike Pizzello tied for team scoring honors...each netting 5 baskets. Pizzello added 7 steals and 4 assists. Troy Ellens again led us in rebounding with 8 boards. Nathan Boot and Jon Penczak each added 5 rebounds.
12/14/07 - vs. Westminster Christian - W-67-37
The freshman cagers came away with a 67-37 victory against the Warriors of Westminster Christian tonight. Led by Mike Pizzello (19 points), ten players reached the scoring column. Troy Ellens also put up double figures with 11 points and added 8 rebounds. Jon Penczak snared 7 errant shots and blocked 3. Pizzello and Kevin Hansberger were defensive stalwarts with 6 and 4 steals respectively.
12/11/07 - vs. Nazareth - L-42-34
We had our seven-game winning streak snapped tonight by the aggressive Roadrunners at NazarethAcademy...42-34. Troy Ellens led the team in scoring and rebounding with 15 points and 7 boards.
12/5/07 -vs. Lisle - W-42-23
Tonight we started a 5-game road trip with a 42-23 victory at Lisle. Nate Ziegler and Troy Ellens each scored 10 points. Ellens also added 6 rebounds and 6 steals. Mike Pizzello recorded 5 assists.
12/4/07 - vs. Chicago Christian W-37-29
The freshman cagers trailed the Knights from Chicago Christian at halftime tonight 21-18. We turned up the defensive pressure and held them to 8 points in the 2nd half, pulling away to a 37-29 victory. Troy Ellens led us in scoring with 10 points; Nathan Boot had 6 points and 6 rebounds; Jon Penczak scored 8 and grabbed 5 errant shots. Mike Pizzello dished 4 assists
11/30/07 - vs. Luther North - W-49-22
Early on, the hard-working Luther North Wildcats kept tonight’s game close. The Trojans took an 18-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. But we turned up the defensive pressure in the 3rd quarter outscoring the Wildcats 18‑1. The final outcome was a 49-22 Trojan victory. Mike Pizzello led us tonight with 14 points, 11 steals, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Nate Ziegler added 11 points. Denzel Teague had 4 thefts.
11/27/07 - vs. Immaculate Conception - W-54-31
We improved our record to 4-1 with avictory over Immaculate Conception. We played very well and were led by Mike Pizzello (15 points, 6 steals, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds). Peter Matthews and Nathan Boot scored 14 and 9 respectively. Jon Penczak recorded a double-double...10 points and 10 rebounds.
Driscoll Thanksgiving Tournament - Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24 - 1st Place!
The freshman hoopers won two games on Friday and one on Saturday to claim the championship of the Driscoll Catholic Thanksgiving tournament.
Our first tourney victory on Friday came against a scrappy team of Tigers from Elmwood Park. The final score was TC 36 – Elmwood Park 19. Troy Ellens led the team in scoring with 12 points and grabbed 7 errant shots. Mike Pizzello had 6 steals and 5 assists to go along with his 9 points. Nathan Ziegler chipped in with 8 points.
In the second game of the day, we jumped out to a 34-6 halftime lead…extending that to 48-14 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Lisle Lions staged a furious 4th quarter comeback, but we held on to record a 52-40 victory. Pizzello led the team in scoring with 14 points while again helping out on the boards with 5 rebounds. Peter Matthews contributed 13 points…including being a perfect 3-3 from beyond the three-point arc. Nate Ziegler added 9 points.
Our Saturday game was against Driscoll Catholic (also 2-0 at the time). After being knotted up 9-9 at the end of the first quarter, the Highlanders took a 17-15 lead into the locker room at halftime. We played very good team defense in the 2nd half holding Driscoll to 9 points, while scoring 22. Final score TC 37 – Driscoll 26. Troy Ellens had 15 points and 8 rebounds; Mike Pizzello added 10 points and 6 rebounds.
11/20/0 - vs. Immaculate Conception - L-45-43
The young Trojans opened the 2007-2008 season tonight against in-city rival Immaculate Conception. Led by Troy Ellens’ 10 points, the freshman cagers held a 30-21 halftime lead over the Knights. But IC tightened the defense in the second half holding us to 13 points and then won the game 45-43 on a last-second putback. Ellens finished with 12 points, while Mike Pizzello chipped in 11, to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
We won the “B” game by a score of 30-27. Mike Arce scored 11 points and snared 14 rebounds.