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Boys Basketball: Naperville North’s fourth-quarter rally keys win
Updated: February 10, 2012 11:33PM
The closer the game, the more comfortable Naperville North seems to be.
The Huskies were back at it playing another contest that was decided in the closing minutes and as usual, North came out on top.
Glenbard East was the latest victim as North battled back for a 47-42 victory on Friday night in Naperville. The win was the Huskies’ tenth by less than five points this season and it keeps North in first place in the DuPage Valley Conference.
“We’re used to coming from behind, so this group doesn’t really panic,” said North senior forward Mike Keane, whose basket with 3 minutes, 37 second remaining gave the Huskies a 41-40 lead. It also gave the squad its first advantage since the opening quarter.
“We’d prefer it not be this way, but (playing close games) is the way we apparently like to win,” Keane said.
The Rams eventually pulled even at 42 with a basket by Bryant Westbrooks at the 1:24 mark.
North began working the ball around and sophomore guard Anthony Rehayem was fouled near midcourt with 1:07 left.
Rehayem made both free throws to push North back in front, 44-42.
Glenbard East (10-10, 5-6) got the ball inside to Marvin Grant-Clark but his layup rimmed out. North grabbed the rebound and Rehayem sealed the game with three additional free throws.
“We just didn’t play intelligent down the stretch,” Glenbard East coach Scott Miller said. “We battled to get back tied and we committed a silly foul at midcourt. You have to give (North) credit as they stepped up and executed, made their free throws and put themselves in position to get to the free-throw line.”
Rehayem tallied a game-high 22 points and made 9 of 10 free throws with three 3-pointers.
“Free throws are no big deal because I practice them all of the time,” Rehayem said.
The Huskies trailed by as many as seven points midway through the third quarter, but they never let the Rams pull too far ahead.
North constantly changed its defenses as it gave a variety of zone looks while sprinkling in man-to-man and it began to pay off when Glenard East committed turnovers on its first few possessions of the fourth quarter. The Huskies also limited the Rams to six points in the fourth quarter.
“We love changing defenses,” said Keane, who joined Rehayem in double figures with 11 points and nine rebounds. “It makes it hard on the opposition to keep track of where everyone is.”
The Huskies have three conference games remaining including a home game with West Aurora next Friday followed by a game at Naperville Central on Feb. 18.
“At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we’d be here,” Rehayem said. “We are happy with where we are at and we still have plenty to play for – we have to take it one at a time.”
Grant-Clark led the Rams with 16 points. North’s Kyle Lindberg chipped in nine points.
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