FITHIAN — In a game where points were hard to come by, the Uni High Illineks couldn’t come up with enough as they fell to the Oakwood Comets 67-54 in a nonconference game Friday night.

The loss ended the team's quest for the best start in school history, as the Illineks are now 6-1 on the season. The best start for a Uni boys varsity team is 7-0, a feat accomplished three times: in 1943-44 (24-4 final record), 1939-40 (16-7), and 1938-39 (14-7).

Mike Renner led Uni with 16 points and 6 steals. Fellow senior Austin Rundus added 15 points. They were the only two Illineks to score in double digits.

The host Comets came out of the gate strong. Leading 6-5 in the first quarter, they went on a 14-0 tear. Uni could not answer, as most of their shots did not fall. The quarter ended with Oakwood up 20-7.

Uni would battle back in the second quarter, holding the Comets to only 6 points. The Illineks continued to struggle in the field, but they narrowed Oakwood’s lead to 26-18 at the half.

The visitors would get as close as 34-31 in the third quarter, going on a 2:39 13-2 run. That would be as close as the Illineks got. Uni trailed 48-36 going into the fourth quarter.

Several times, it seemed Uni was ready to make a run for the lead. But the Illineks were unable to put together more than 5 points in a row. Oakwood shot 12 free throws in the last 2:14, making 8 to close the game out. Oakwood made went 17-25 at the line, in contrast to Uni’s 9-20 free-throw shooting.

Senior Chumar Williams added 6 points and a team-high 8 assists. Seniors Frankie McFarland and Isaac Radnitzer scored 8 points apiece and grabbed 8 and 7 boards, respectively.

The Illineks' 21 field goals were the fewest they've made on the season.

In JV action Friday night, Oakwood defeated Uni 42-19. The JV is now 2-3 on the season.

The JV will play its next game on Tuesday, when Buckley Christ Lutheran visits Kenney Gym. The Uni varsity defeated BCL earlier this season at Kenney 69-17.

The varsity is not scheduled to play again until Dec. 27, when Uni will face Heritage (1 p.m.) and Georgetown-Ridge Farm (6:30 p.m.) in the first day of the three-day Hayden's Classic.

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 6-1 overall, 0-0 ECIC
(home matches listed in bold)

Nov. 19: Shiloh (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 80-32

• Story: Uni routs Shiloh in season-opening tournament game
• Points: Mike Renner 13, Austin Rundus 13, Chumar Williams 12, Isaac Radnitzer 12, Frankie McFarland 11
• Rebounds: McFarland 7, Renner 6, Ammar Rizwan 5
• Assists: Williams 11
• JV game: Bement 26 - Uni 25
• JV record: 0-1, 0-0

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 69-17

• Story: Uni faces no trouble in 69-17 win over BCL
• Points: Chumar Williams 13, Isaac Radnitzer 12, Mike Renner 11, Alan Kessler 11
• JV game: Uni 36 - Shiloh 15
• JV record: 1-1, 0-0

Nov. 23: Bement (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 73-59

• Story: Uni to play in tournament final after victory over Bement
• Points: Chumar Williams 21, Austin Rundus 15, Mike Renner 13
• Rebounds: Rundus 8
• Assists: Williams 8
• JV game: none
• JV record: 1-1, 0-0

Nov. 24: Martinsville (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney championship game), W 74-43

• Story: Renner breaks 3-point record as Uni wins Turkey Tourney championship
• Points: Mike Renner 23 (four 3-pointers), Chumar Williams 16, Isaac Radnitzer 8, Frankie McFarland 8
• Rebounds: Renner 5, Radnitzer 5
• Assists: Renner 8, Williams 6
• Steals: Williams 4
• JV game: none
• JV record: 1-1, 0-0

Nov. 30: at Shiloh, W 72-23

• Story: Illineks roll to best start of Beesley era
• Points: Mike Renner 19 (two 3-pointers, 1-2 FT), Austin Rundus 12 (two 3-pointers, 4-5 FT), Isaac Radnitzer 10, Alan Kessler 9 (5-8 FT), Dan Lilly 6, Ammar Rizwan 5 (1-1 FT), Malcolm Taylor 5 (3-4 FT), Frankie McFarland 4 (0-2 FT), Chumar Williams 2
• Rebounds: Radnitzer 9, Kessler 7, McFarland 4, Renner 2, Rundus 2, Lilly 2, Rizwan 2, Taylor 2
• Assists: Renner 2, Rundus 2, Radnitzer 2, Lilly 2, Williams 2, Taylor 1
• Blocks: Hamer 2, Renner 1, Radnitzer 1
• Steals: Renner 4, Lilly 3, Rundus 2, Radnitzer 1, Kessler 1, Williams 1
• JV game: Uni def. Shiloh 33-27
• JV record: 2-1, 0-0

Dec. 4: St. Thomas More, W 63-45

• Story: Payback! Uni defeats St. Thomas More by 18
• Point leaders: Mike Renner 20, Frankie McFarland 12, Chumar Williams 11
• Rebound leader: McFarland 10
• Assist leader: Williams 7
• JV game: STM def. Uni 59-18
• JV record: 2-2, 0-0

Dec. 14: at Oakwood, L 67-54

• Story: see above
• Points: Mike Renner 16 (1 trey, 1-2 FT), Austin Rundus 15 (1 trey, 1-3 FT), Frankie McFarland 8 (2-6 FT), Isaac Radnitzer 8 (2-5 FT), Chumar Williams 6 (2-2 FT), Dan Lilly 1 (1-2 FT)
• Rebounds: McFarland 8, Radnitzer 7, Renner 3, Williams 3, Rundus 1
• Assists: Williams 8, Renner 2, Rundus 1, Lilly 1
• Steals: Renner 6, Rundus 2, Radnitzer 2, Williams 2, Ammar Rizwan 1
• Blocks: Williams 1, Rizwan 1
• JV game: Oakwood def. Uni 42-19
• JV record: 2-3, 0-0

Next game: JV only vs. Buckley Christ Lutheran, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, at Kenney Gym. Visitors click here for directions to Uni High.

2007-08 schedule: Click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard.