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It took an extra day, but Lake Forest got what it wanted.

A blizzard forced the Scouts 4A Lake Zurich regional semifinal round game against Hersey to be moved from Tuesday to Wednesday. The wintry weather just postponed what Lake Forest was expected to do, which was win. It did handily, defeating an out-matched Huskies team 69-45.

“We just had to win. Hersey’s a good team,” senior forward Sam Downey said. “We just had to advance and hopefully win the next one.

Lake Forest hadn’t played in eight days, and the Scouts rust showed early. Hersey led 15-14 after the first quarter. But it was only a matter of time before Lake Forest’s size advantage became a factor. Featuring four starters 6-foot-4 or taller compared with Hersey, which featured just one, the Scouts began to break down the Huskies inside.

The second quarter was when Lake Forest flexed its muscle.

With 1:03 remaining in the half, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Evan Boudreaux (13 points, 10 rebounds) dropped a pass under the basket into a tight window to the 6-foot-9 Downey (game-high 21 points). His layup capped a 17-6 run for the Scouts, who went into the break leading 34-23.

Hersey (8-19) never got closer the rest of the game, as Lake Forest led 55-35 after three quarters and cleared its bench for most of the fourth.

The Scouts got 13 points from senior Carter Bass, including nine in the third quarter.

“Inside out, play good defense. When we win, that’s the type of ball we play,” Downey said. “Any buckets (Bass) can get are good buckets as it spreads the defense out, makes us better.”

Hersey was led by sophomore Payton Haas, who finished with 15 points.

Lake Forest plays the winner of Mundelein-Lake Zurich in the Lake Zurich 4A regional championship Friday night.