Lyons senior guards Tavari Johnson and Billy Bach kept surveying the court looking for an open shot.

The Lyons were attempting to pull off one of biggest upset victories in recent years against Glenbard West (25-0) on Jan. 28. In front of a near capacity home crowd, the Lions had already gained a moral victory by forcing the Hilltoppers’ starters to play the entire game.

Down 59-50 with 1:40 left to play, the Lions were within striking distance, especially with a red-hot forward Niklas Polonowski, who had made six 3s, itching for the ball.

As Johnson and Bach passed the ball to each other — several feet behind the 3-point arc near the top-of-the-key — it quickly became apparent that Glenbard West’s 1-3-1 defense was not allowing any open looks.

Just then, Glenbard West senior guard Caden Pierce preyed on a slight opening, knocking the ball free from Bach’s hands for a steal to secure a 62-50 victory.

Over the past few years, Glenbard West’s rise up the state and national rankings can be partly attributed to the highly successful decision to implement the 1-3-1 defense to take advantage of their length, height and mobility.

The Hilltoppers’ 1-3-1 defense will play a central factor in Saturday’s epic showdown against Sierra Canyon at Wintrust Arena. How Sierra Canyon attacks Glenbard West’s patented defense is a key element in the highly anticipated game between two Top 25 nationally ranked teams.

Glenbard West coach Jason Opoka said his decision to utilize the 1-3-1 defense dates back to 2019 in an attempt to “find a spark to rejuvenate our team.” He credited assistant coach Dan Vashinko, legendary former College of DuPage coach Don Klaas and Fenton coach Chaz Taft for helping install the defense. Now, the 1-3-1 defense is part of Glenbard West’s fabric.

“Their intelligence and willingness to share thoughts have brought us to where we are today,” Opoka said. “For three years we have been critiquing and mastering our concepts/rotations to best benefit our personnel.

“Our defense has given us an identity and an excitement for our program. It’s the staple of what we preach in order to be successful. We might have a tough shooting night but you can always rely on our ability to defend and rebound.”

Downers Grove North coach James Thomas said unlocking the code to beat Glenbard West requires many factors, but most teams don’t have the personnel to execute their game plan.

The Trojans remain the only team to beat the Hilltoppers in the last two seasons, a 59-49 win on March 12. The Hilltoppers’ startling lineup — 6-5 Pierce, 6-11 Braden Huff, 6-8 Ryan Renfro, 6-7 Bobby Huff and often 6-3 Paxton Warden - poses big problems because of their rare combination of height, length, athleticism and basketball IQ.

“Their length is of great value to them because they cover north to west to east and south,” Thomas said. “They are so long that it’s hard to get that ball moving at the speed where those scoring opportunities present themselves. Even in the film I watched, the scoring opportunities come available but they’re so long on their close outs, they give you trouble in not giving you a clean look.

“But then you have to decide whether you want to toe the three-pointer for a high percentage look or move back to 22 feet and do it. Then you are talking about lower percentages, and that’s how they get into their best offense, their transition offense. Plus, Glenbard West’s rebounding percentages are astronomical. You’re just not getting the rebound. Not only is their length an issue but Glenbard West’s speed to close out to the ball when you do have a scoring option is incredibly impressive.”

The Hilltoppers’ size in the 1-3-1 is a major issue for the majority of teams. Pierce, a Princeton recruit, ignites the defense in the chaser role. Pierce’s wing-span, quick reflexes and anticipation skills pose a problem for any offense, even for a Division I guard, such as Johnson, an Akron recruit. Johnson struggled getting shots off in all three losses to the Hilltoppers this season.

Glenbrook South nearly knocked off Glenbard West thanks to a lights-out shooting performance from senior point guard Cooper Noard. The Cornell recruit attacked the defense by shooting most of his 3-pointers well past the arc, finishing with seven 3s, but not many teams possesses a shooter capable of hitting 3s from 24-feet on a regular basis.

Opoka said Pierce’s enormous and varied skill set headlines the 1-3-1. With Pierce roaming up top, the Hilltoppers defense limits shots and ignites their transition offense. Glenbard West has held 13 opponents to 36 points or less points this season.

“We have felt that the 1-3-1 maximizes our opportunity to put us at a defensive advantage,” Opoka said. “The overall goal of our 1-3-1 is to create activity and establish crisp rotations which challenge perimeter based possessions.

“Caden Pierce at the top creates an intimidating and intelligent matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He’s athletic, long and crisp with his angles, which helps dictate where the ball is entered.”

At 6-11 with agile feet and quick hands, Huff, a Gonzaga recruit, often plays one of the two wing spots.

“Caden does a great job in our 1-3-1,” Huff said. “We’re so long and Caden gets a lot of steals and he embraces our defense, so does our entire team.”

Pierce said he cherishes his role at the top of the 1-3-1 defense, which, in turn, often sparks the Hilltoppers transition offense.

“Basically, up top I just try to wreck havoc and try and get as many tips, deflections and steals as I can while trying to push guys out of the middle,” Pierce said. “If I’m active, that gets our defense going up top and we get a lot of transition stuff which opens the game up a bit.”

Thomas said Glenbard West’s 1-3-1 defense forces a team into a pick-your-poison mode because holding the ball or pushing the pace plays into their hands.

“The more possessions, then the more rebounds they will get and the more you will turn it over, but again, you can’t stall against them because of their length,” Thomas said. “Their coaches yells “pinch” and they’re coming right at you, and you know what’s going to happen.”

Lyons coach Tom Sloan said Glenbard West’s combination of length and athleticism in its 1-3-1 zone defense is a tough riddle to decode.

“They feast off turnovers and feast off bad shots,” Sloan said. “You need to be patient, but when you get a good open look, you have to shoot it.

“Their length is just so overwhelming at times. They use their length to their advantage. There was a play late in our game against them. Tavari tried to hit Nik on a back-door, but one of their defenders got from the wing to the basket and picked it off. If you’re not playing that defense the right way, that’s a layup. They play it very well and their size makes it even more difficult.”