After missing seven games, Lemont twins Matas and Rokas Castillo return to improved team. ‘That makes it easier.’

The Castillo twins are back, and they feel they have returned to a better Lemont team than the one they saw the last time they played in a game.

Matas and Rokas Castillo, both senior guards and Wisconsin-Parkside recruits, missed seven games between Jan. 13 and Jan. 27 for undisclosed reasons.

Lemont (20-6) managed to go 3-4 without its top two scorers, finishing the stretch with back-to-back South Suburban Blue wins over Oak Forest and T.F. North.

“It was tough,” Matas Castillo said. “We had to watch from home, but our team really picked it up and got some good quality wins. I’m really proud of them.

“We got better as a team, and now that makes it easier for us.”

Rokas Castillo said the twins were champing at the bit to get back on the court.

“We were definitely missing it and we were excited to play again,” Rokas said. “We just have to get back in our rhythm now.”

The duo made a big return in Friday’s 69-45 win over Shepard, with Rokas scoring 20 points and Matas adding 16.

But Rokas said they still need to get back into the flow, something that was more evident Saturday in a hard-fought 52-44 victory over Lincoln-Way Central.

Rokas scored 17 points in that one, while Matas struggled with his shot and scored just five.

“We were kind of rusty,” Rokas said. “We just have to get back into it. It’s getting used to the pace of the game. (Lincoln-Way Central) played a box-and-two against us. That’s something we have to adjust to and get used to again.”

Rokas is confident his teammates are now more prepared to make teams pay when they focus their defense on the twins. He saw that in the win over the Knights.

“Ryan (Runaas) is hitting big threes, Klaidas (Paskauskas) hit a big three in the fourth quarter,” Rokas said. “Miles (Beachum) and David (Bilevicius) got a few key steals. Overall, it was a team win.”

Lemont coach Rick Runaas recognized several players thrust into bigger roles without the Castillo twins, including his son, Ryan.

Ryan scored 11 points and Noah Tomaras led the way with 12 in a huge Jan. 24 win over T.F. North (17-4).

“Beating T.F. North was a big win for us in our sectional,” Rick Runaas said. “Hopefully, kids gained confidence from that. Conor (Murray) just played a great floor game. We really depended on his leadership, and we’ll continue to do so.

“You hope when opportunities come up for guys, they take advantage. You don’t expect the opportunity to come up this way, but hopefully it helps these guys down the stretch.”

Mightiest Mustang: In Evergreen Park’s 66-63 loss Saturday to Perspectives-MSA, Nolan Sexton scored 25 points, topping the 1,000-point mark for his career and becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer.

The junior guard still has a whole senior season to add to his record.

Sexton’s teammates know they can always count on the three-year varsity starter, who is the son of Evergreen Park coach Jim Sexton.

“We always have confidence in Nolan,” junior guard Ulises Cardenas said. “We know if we get him the ball, he’s going to knock down his shot.”

Mad Mustangs: St. Rita coach Roshawn Russell admitted there is some frustration building as the Mustangs (14-10) continue to suffer tough losses while playing a loaded schedule.

Russell, though, remains confident it will all pay off in the end.

“We’re a little bit aggravated because if you look at our schedule, game for game, nobody has played a schedule like this,” Russell said. “I think we’ve definitely shown we can play with anybody. We’re as good as anybody in the state.

“We will finish strong, and come playoff time, I guarantee no one will want to match up with us.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.