Bulldogs rally again, top New Trier

No. 1 Waukegan didn’t arrive at the top spot in the state by blowing away teams, and it doesn’t appear the Bulldogs are going to change now that they’re there.

Waukegan found itself for the third time this month trailing in the third quarter. And for the third time this month, the Bulldogs awoke just in time keep their perfect season intact.

On Friday, it was New Trier’s hopes that Waukegan (8-0, 3-0) dashed as the visiting Bulldogs fought back to pull out a 59-53 win in the Central Suburban South match up in Winnetka.

“We never panic,” Waukegan’s Steve Conner said. “We always fight back.”

The Trevians (4-5, 1-2) took a 34-29 lead, their largest lead of the second half, when Fred Heldring grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 4:23 remaining in the third quarter. From there, Waukegan was a different team.

On New Trier’s next nine possessions, the Bulldogs forced seven turnovers, one offensive foul and allowed one basket. In that time, they also went on a 10-2 run and never trailed again.

“I don’t know what it is exactly,” Waukegan’s Jereme Richmond said. “Halftimes are big us. We stress staying together.”

Richmond faced another student section that stayed on him all night. Every time he touched the ball, the students yelled “shoot it”, “overrated” or “who’s Richmond?” Despite the taunting and later picking up his fourth foul with just under four minutes remaining in the game, Richmond kept his head.

“It was tough,” said Richmond, who had 20 points and seven rebounds. “I thought some of the calls were questionable. Even with me picking up four fouls and the hostile crowd, I knew I had to be accountable to my team.”

Colin Nickerson (13 points) and Conner (11 points, four steals, four rebounds and four assists) contributed in the win.

Sean Stanley scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the first half for New Trier. Alex Rossi (11 points, six assists)also led New Trier.

After seeing his team come out slow once again, Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw did decide what he wanted for Christmas.

“We’re going to ask Santa Claus to have better first quarters,” Ashlaw said.