Glenbrook South, Martinelli hand Hawks first loss of 2021 in CSL South opener

On Friday night in Park Ridge, two undefeated Central Suburban League South powers met at Maine South.

Visiting Glenbrook South and the host Hawks each had four consecutive, convincing victories to start the 2021 season.

The game was tied at 21 at halftime before Glenbrook South (5-0, 1-0) juniors, 6-foot-7 Nick Martinelli and Cooper Noard scored 28 of the 32 Titan points in the second half and run-away with the 55-33 victory.

Martinelli and Noard tied for game-scoring honors with 22 points each.

Tonight's game was the first of a two-game CSL South opening series. The two clubs met in Glenview at Glenbrook South on Saturday.

After trailing 15-8 with 5:31 left in the first half, the Hawks (4-1,0-1) went on a 13-3 run, to take a 21-18 lead with seconds remaining in the half.

Martinelli may have made the Titans' game-winning play on the final play of the first half.

Martinelli's 25-foot, fall-away three-point dagger at the buzzer tied the game at 21 at the half.

Riding the emotional high from his outstanding play to close out the half, Martinelli and his Titans ran past the Hawks for the CSL South victory.

The 13-3 Hawks run in the second quarter was highlighted by five points from Hawks' senior Nikola Zelenovic (seven points).

Zelenovic hit the only three-pointer for the Hawks on the night in the run as the Hawks struggled from beyond the arc.

Replacing the injured sophomore Ryan Leyden, Hawk junior Ryan Modert (four points, two assists), had some productive minutes in the game. Modert teamed up with senior Sean Gallery (10 points, nine rebounds) on a pair of well-executed hoops to give the Hawks leads in the second quarter.

With 3:41 left to play in the first half, Modert dropped a picture-perfect pass to Gallery for two and a 16-15 Hawk lead.

With 1:30 remaining, Gallery returned the favor with a beautiful dime to Modert for two and a Hawk 20-18 lead.

Six-foot-5 Julian Triffo made one of two free throws to give the Hawks a 21-18 lead with seconds remaining in the first half.

Martinelli hit the miracle shot that turned the lights out on the Hawks.

Hawks' 6-foot-6 senior Marko Anderson (nine points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots) just missed a double double.

"This was just the first of a two-game series with Glenbrook South," Maine South head coach Tony Lavorato said. "They got us tonight but I am very excited to be able to play them again in Glenview.

"We played well in the first half but had some mental breakdowns in the second half. We did not shoot the ball well and as Glenbrook South has done all year, they really got out in transition and hurt us."