Chicago-Area High School Football News and Scores | Season Pass

For the first quarter, fans attending Wednesday’s boys basketball game between Zion-Benton and Grayslake Central had to feel like they were watching a two-man game of H-O-R-S-E.

In a classic quarter of “Can you top this?” basketball, Zion-Benton’s Milik Yarbrough poured in 10 of his team’s 19 points, only to be out-horsed by Grayslake’s Danny Reed, who had all 15 of his team’s points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from the foul stripe.

Eventually, the other players got involved, and when they did, Zion-Benton’s superiority became evident, with the Bees winning the nonconference game 60-44.

Yarbrough finished with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting.

Zion-Benton (20-5) scored 16 straight points during a 5:20 stretch of the third quarter to move the score from 30-26 to 46-26.

“We’re really starting to play together now,” Z-B forward Trenton Curry (seven points, six boards) said. “We’re working a lot harder in practice and it seems like it’s paying off in the games.”

Zion coach Don Kloth saw 10 players make field goals in the game.

“I think it’s moving in that direction and it really has to,” said Kloth of his team’s depth.

Of course, Zion also has Yarbrough, arguably the county’s best player.

“There are times we need Milik to score, but he’s also a great team player,” Kloth said. “He’s a great rebounder and a good passer.”

Kloth also praised Reed, who finished with 20 points to lead the Rams (4-19).

“I saw Grayslake Central last night when they beat Crystal Lake Central, and was impressed with them,” he said. “We worked as hard as we could on Reed. He worked really well in the first quarter off the ball, and his shooting in the first quarter was as good as I’ve seen in a long time. Maybe he got a little tired. Our kids really worked hard on him.”

Zion plays at Walther Lutheran in Chicago on Saturday. Grayslake is at Woodstock North on Friday.