The Broncos (9-6) defensive intensity early set them up offensively as three Broncos score in double figures and helps them to a lead they would never relinquish.  Barrington's third place finish at the Jacobs Holiday Tournament was earned with their 57-40 victory over the Bartlett Hawks.

Perhaps it was due to Barrington and Bartlett being a rematch from the season opening Mundelein Tournament.  Or perhaps it was the Broncos wanting to make a statement after their semifinal loss to Huntley that set-up their third place game against the Hawks, but the Broncos had an early answer to the normally potent Hawk offense. 

After the Broncos were down early at 4-3, they powered ahead and didn't allow the Hawks a field goal for more than 5 minutes.  Barrington ended the quarter up 12-4 after a 9-0 run that saw 5 different Broncos score.

"Barrington plays good defense on the perimeter, they take away penetration and they close out fast so you shoot a little quicker than normal," Bartlett's coach Jim Wolfsmith said.  [The first quarter] was a combination of our bad shooting and their defense."

"[Bartlett] is a talented team," Barrington's coach Bryan Tucker said of his teams' first quarter defensive effort.  "If you only give up 4 points to open a game you put yourself in a good spot."

The Hawks (8-7) attempted to mount a comeback during the second quarter thanks to the 9 point effort during the frame by Bartlett's junior guard Matt Chaltin.  Chaltin ended the night with a game high 13 points.

However, Barrington's junior forward John Schneider nearly matched him with his six points during the quarter and helped to stretch the Bronco lead heading to halftime at 30-19.  Schneider ended the game tied for the team lead with 11 points and it was his second consecutive game in double figures.

"I'm definitely becoming more comfortable with the offense as I'm getting more looks and it seems we're working together nicely," Schneider said of the court time missed due to his injury.  "The injury was a big slow down for the beginning of the season for us to deal with.  

The Broncos all but ended Bartlett's hopes for a revenge win when Barrington started the second half on a 9-2 run that was capped by Lukas Osmundsen's finesse move inside the paint.  Osmundsen was the second of three Broncos in double figures and tied for the team high with 11 points.

"What it says is that you have guys willing to share the basketball to find the open man," Tucker said of his balanced offense.

Barrington started the fourth quarter up by their largest lead of the night at 46-29 and continued to basically battle point for point with the Hawks.  It was nice to see senior forward Owen Prunskis get rewarded offensively for his day in-day out battles inside the paint as he managed to slip into double figures after consecutive free throws late in the fourth put the game away.  Prunskis scored 10 points and was one of the fine performances on the night that gave the Broncos their third place finish at the Jacobs Holiday Tournament with a 57-40 victory.

"Of course we were shooting for the first place finish," Schneider said.  "But a third place finish is still good."

Schneider maybe a bit disappointed but coach Tucker isn't.

"I'm very proud of our kids," Tucker said.  "They didn't let the fact they weren't playing in the championship game bother them.  They went out and played a good defensive game proving our win earlier in the season against Bartlett wasn't a fluke."     

Barrington shuts it down for the holidays, and year, and will not play their next game until Jan. 4.   The Broncos will be hosting a MSL conference crossover with Elk Grove at 7 p.m.   

And if you are curious what to get coach Tucker this year for the holidays you won't find it in any store.

"Greg Gerrard coming back healthy," Tucker said smiling of his versatile guard.  "I don't even have to hesitate."