Boys Basketball: Practice makes perfect for Mundelein’s Dunigan
By Derek Reinglass Contributor January 13, 2012 10:34PM
Cliff Dunigan of the Mustangs goes to the basket against Stevenson's Connor Cashaw during Friday's contest. | Darrell Harmon~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:17AM
In the wee hours of the morning, when the sun has yet to rise, and most people remain fast asleep, beads of sweat trickle down the face of Mundelein’s Cliff Dunigan as he perfects his jumper.
“I was frustrated with how I had been shooting so I’ve been putting in a lot of extra work,” Dunigan said. “I’ve been waking up early, and going to the YMCA with my dad at 5 a.m.”
The additional practice hours have certainly paid off for the junior forward who has been stroking it from the perimeter the past few games.
“Cliff has always been a good shooter, it’s been more about him developing a quicker trigger,” coach Richard Knar said. “Not only being ready to shoot at all times, but also, getting it off quicker when he has a good look.
“I have high expectations for Cliff because he has the ability to be a very consistent scorer,” the coach added. “He has great footwork in the post, and the range to hit the open three. He can beat you in a variety of ways, and you can tell he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
Last Friday night, Dunigan’s team-high 14 points, including six from beyond the arc, helped lead the Mustangs to a 59-51 home win over conference foe Stevenson.
“They were sagging off me, probably thinking I wouldn’t shoot the three, but I came ready to shoot,” Dunigan said after the game.
After allowing Libertyville to shrink an 18-point halftime lead to four last weekend, Mundelein let Stevenson, who trailed by double digits the majority of the game, to draw within six, 49-43, with 4:33 remaining.
“You never want to let those leads get away, but we have really good leaders in Sean [O’Brien] and Robert [Knar] who are able to turn it on when we need them,” Dunigan said.
Chino Ebube, who had been in Nigeria after the passing of his grandmother, returned to the team Friday to help bolster the Mustangs’ interior defense. With the length and athleticism of the Ebube (6-foot-2), Dunigan (6-3) and O’Brien (6-6), points in the paint and second-chance opportunities are hard for opponents to come by.
“We feel we’re better equipped to handle an up-tempo game than most teams, so we’re at our best when we’re pushing the ball every chance we get,” Knar said. “Pace starts with rebounding and defensive stops, both of which we’re getting better at, but still need to improve.”
“Where we’ve been running into problems is when instead of being patient in the half-court offense, we’re tentative. There’s a big difference between patiently waiting for good shots, and not looking to shoot.
After jumping out to a 23-3 lead, the Mustangs cruised to a 57-39 win over Antioch at home on Saturday. With the win, Mundelein is now 17-3, 5-1. O’Brien and Knar led Mundelein with 13 points apiece, and Dunigan once again played well finishing with nine.
“In our conference, a win is a win,” Knar said. “I’m happy to get my hands on one anyway I can, no matter the score.”
Mundelein’s game with Lake Forest on Friday was postponed due to heavy snowfall. It has been rescheduled for Jan. 26.
The Mustangs (17-3, 4-1) will face Hales Franciscan on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Young Shootout.
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