Hawkins Helps Fuel Thornton

Throughout Thornton's 58-43 SICA East victory over ThornwoodFriday night, senior guard Michael Allen treated the home crowd to apleasing display of dunks, spin moves and three-point shots.

Allen scored 26 in the Wildcats' home opener, but 6-5 juniorSean Hawkins was the workhorse in a run that sparked Thornton (4-0,1-0).

Leading 23-20 at halftime, Thornton scored six consecutivepoints and opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run keyed by Hawkins,who finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.Thornwood's (4-2, 1-1) smallest deficit after that was 10 points.

After Allen opened the half with a basket that made it 25-20,Hawkins on successive possessions scored on a tip-in, a follow of hisown miss and another putback that gave Thornton a 31-22 lead with4:30 left in the third quarter.

Hawkins then ripped down a rebound on the defensive backboardand rifled an outlet pass to Allen, who jammed it home for a 34-22lead. Obaya Fields' tip-in completed the spurt.

"They're a tough rebounding team," Thornwood coach Al Holversonsaid. "Hawkins is going to be a tough ballplayer."

Thornton, playing its first game in 10 days, made only 10-of-33shots in the first half.

"We looked like we had 10 days off," Thornton coach Sam Camelisaid. "Shots that should have fallen didn't fall and feet that weresupposed to move didn't move. We fouled everybody in the gym but thescorekeeper."

Thornton, which did not score in the first 2:45, took its firstlead at 14-13 on a three-pointer by Allen, who had made a dunk and a360-degree spin on a three-point play as the Wildcats climbed backfrom Thornwood's early lead.

Thornton held the advantage through the first half, going up23-20 at intermission on Kevin Jones' off-balance bank shot at thebuzzer. Allen had 12 points in the first half.

Thornwood 6-2 junior Dewshannon Holmes worked himself freeinside Thornton's zone defense for four field goals and two freethrows in the first half and finished with a team-high 13 points.

Hawkins was benched for missing a dunk with 4:35 remaining.That's a Cameli rule.

"Sean's only mistake is he's too anxious sometimes," Allen said."He's got to relax."

"Sean gave us a great effort," Cameli said. "But he can't bestreaky. He's got to be more consistent."