Benjamin Biskupic's hard-nosed, unselfish, 'glue guy' gifts help Riverside-Brookfield upset Glenbard East

Successful high school basketball teams are generally made up of similar pieces. There is a star, a promising sophomore and experienced, talented senior guards. Maybe an impact big man or a defensive stopper.

Each of those roles earns a moment in the spotlight over the course of the season. But there is another, far less flashy role on successful teams. Coaches call it the glue guy. Some teams never find one, and all of those other pieces never fit together correctly.

Riverside-Brookfield may have the best glue guy in the area. Benjamin Biskupic, a 6-1 senior, isn’t just good at playing this role. He also knows how to describe it.

“My role is to sit down and guard and be a voice for the team on defense,” Biskupic said. “Set good screens and get the guys who are a little more skilled, a little better at basketball, open and let them play offense.

“But on the defensive end I’m on the floor, I’m rebounding, I’m talking and doing all of the little things that coaches love that don’t show up on the stat sheet.”

The Bulldogs dominated the first three quarters against No. 14 Glenbard East on Tuesday in Riverside and then held on through a rocky fourth quarter to win 69-64. The fans stormed the court and held up pictures of coach Mike Reingruber.

But without a few key, gutsy and smart plays by Biskupic, the victory probably would have slipped away.

Riverside-Brookfield (19-5, 9-1 Upstate Eight) led by 19 points with 3:09 left in the third quarter and by 17 at the start of the fourth quarter. Glenbard East ripped off a 15-0 run to open the fourth and cut the lead to 59-57.

It was Biskupic that scored to stop the Rams’ momentum. Then Biskupic came up with a key rebound after Riverside-Brookfield missed two free throws with 1:14 left leading 63-61.

“That really helped us seal the victory,” Biskupic said. “I was on the bench when they made their run. I was thinking ‘oh my gosh I need to get in the game’. I was sitting there having a nervous breakdown. But when you get on the floor it is different because you can control what is going on. I know the guys. I can trust every player on the floor. I knew we could win the game.”

Biskupic finished with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. He was 5-for-6 shooting.

“He is absolutely our glue,” Reingruber said. “He does so much of the dirty work and he doesn’t care about scoring or recognition. He will guard, he will rebound and he will make an open shot when you need him to. He does all the little things that every great team needs.”

Senior Liam Enright led the Bulldogs with 19 points and five rebounds and senior Cameron Mercer scored 18. Colin Cimino finished with 10 points and four rebounds and sophomore Noah VanTholen scored nine.

“Cameron has been our leading scorer all year and he’s had a heck of a senior year but other guys stepped up tonight and that is what good teams do in big situations,” Reingruber said.

Michael Nee led Glenbard East (23-3, 9-1) with 22 points and six rebounds and Keenan House added 21 points.

Both teams came into the game red-hot. Riverside-Brookfield had won 10 consecutive games and Glenbard East 11. The teams are now tied for first in the Upstate Eight.