Consolation Bracket: Breakaway vs Illinois Fast Academy (14U)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 14U consolation matchup at Windy City Wars, [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] closed their tournament on a high note with a convincing 55–31 win over Illinois Fast Academy, finishing 3–1 on the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] set the tone early, dominating the boards and turning rebounds into transition points. [player_tooltip player_id='2553564' first='Adam' last='Schwarz'] made his presence felt immediately, using his athleticism and size to control the paint. His work on the glass opened up fast break opportunities that helped [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] build early momentum. Despite some cold shooting stretches, they made up for it with second-chance opportunities and physical play inside. [player_tooltip player_id='2835795' first='Frankie' last='Battaglia'] capitalized on his height advantage, scoring efficiently around the rim and drawing the defense in for well-timed kick-outs. [player_tooltip player_id='2835803' first='Carter' last='Pohlman'] added key slashing finishes, keeping the lead intact when [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last='']'s transition game briefly slowed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illinois Fast Academy countered with strong defensive adjustments, leaning on a disciplined half-court zone to slow the pace and stay within reach. [player_tooltip player_id='2782181' first='Malachi' last='Bell'] provided a spark, attacking the basket and consistently getting to the free throw line. Jackson Howard settled the offense with poise, orchestrating pick-and-roll actions and creating clean looks for teammates. At halftime, [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] led 25–14, but the game still felt within reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illinois Fast Academy came out swinging in the second half, cutting into the deficit with improved spacing and crisp ball movement. Howard took matters into his own hands with a flurry of layups in both transition and the half court, giving his team a much-needed lift. However, [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last='']'s [player_tooltip player_id='2835799' first='Rob' last='Nowak'] responded with a barrage of three-pointers that turned a tight contest into a runaway. His hot hand extended the lead to 24 points, sealing the outcome and allowing [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] to cruise to a 55–31 finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a gritty, high-energy contest between two well-coached squads, but [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last='']'s size, rebounding dominance, and perimeter shooting proved too much to overcome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->