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Lenzelle Smith Jr.

The Zee-Bees of Zion Benton topped Evanston today 63-53 in a battle north suburban heavyweights at day one of the Lane Tech Thanksgiving Tournament.

            Evanston was the favorite coming into the game, as they are ranked #9 with Zion-Benton sitting at #13. Both teams came out gunning, with the Wildkits and the Zee-Bee’s trading off a few three point baskets early. Sophomore wing Lenzelle Smith Jr. hit four three’s in the first half for Zion-Benton, and finished with 16 points as the games leading scorer.

            “It feel’s good to come out with a win,” said Smith, who is being recruited by a number of schools including DePaul, Marquette, Baylor, and Northwestern. “Evanston is a great team and they played hard the whole game. Nothing came easy for us, but I just let the game come to me, and I came out shooting well. I’m happy we could start off with a win.”

The game was neck and neck until late in the third quarter, when the Zee-Bees began running away with the game with solid free-throw shooting, some clutch outside shooting and solid rebounding. Senior forward Travis Clark of Evanston was not quick to let Zion win however, as he had a more then solid performance with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, while having to match up most of the game with Z-B’s 6-7 junior Markus Yarborough, who finished with just 7 points and 7 rebounds.

            “Evanston is a very talented team and we had to fight for every board,” said Zion-Benton Head Coach Don Kloth. “Lenzelle’s shooting was a key point, and every possession was important this game.”

            This win is a huge one for Z-B, but the road doesn’t get any easier for either team, as they both have to play #8 Oak Park-River Forest and #15 Mount Carmel in the next few days.

            “We have an awfully tough game coming up against Oak Park,” said Coach Kloth. “When you come into a tourney with such good teams, weaknesses will be exposed. I’m happy we could come out with a win.”

            Senior guard Rodney Clinkscales had 15 points for Zion-Benton, and junior wing Quintrell Love added 13. Sophomore guard Ryan Frazier-Chambers had 13 points and 3 blocks for Evanston in his first ever varsity game, and senior guard Zach Morton added 8 points and 7 assists for the Wildkits.