Boys Basketball: Naperville Central’s Mike Blaszczyk comes up big vs Hinsdale Central

Updated: February 7, 2012 10:18PM

A 26-point, 13-rebound performance by Naperville Central’s 6-foot-8 sophomore Nick Czarnowski caused big problems all night for Hinsdale Central on Tuesday.

But a less imposing teammate produced the decisive swing in the visiting Redhawks’ 51-44 win.

Held to one point until the final minute, Naperville Central guard Mike Blaszczyk hit a baseline three-pointer with 50 seconds left to put the Redhawks (12-9) ahead 45-44. He followed with two key free throws with 13 seconds to go, part of six straight converted from the line by the visitors in the last 45 seconds.

“We have some big role players on this team,” Czarnowski said. “Mike came off the bench and he did exactly what he needed to do. We expected him to do it and it was really big for us.”

“’Blaze’ is just so capable of making that shot,” Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer said of the big three pointer, which gave the Redhawks their first lead since 4-3. “That was a designed play for him. I know he just came in the game, but he’s a shooter. We had very unselfish play from the whole team.”

Hinsdale Central (13-8) seemed in control much of the night behind big games from Brad Anlauf (18 points) and Tom Garvin (13 points, 12 rebounds). Aided by 5-of-26 field goal shooting in the first half by the Redhawks, the Red Devils led 20-14 at the break and maintained a 38-32 edge with 6:35 to go.

But a scoreless drought over the last nearly four minutes of the game (including two straight missed one-and-one free throw chances in the last minute) proved costly.

“They played better than us throughout and deserved to win the game,” Red Devils’ coach Nick Latorre said. “I thought we were very fortunate early to be ahead. They had a ton of open looks and they got 11 offensive rebounds in the first half. They outplayed us.

“I was disappointed in the way we rebounded, got after loose balls and all the things you need to do to win.”

Czarnowski scored 21 of Naperville Central’s 32 points over the first three quarter, dominating the paint and keeping his team afloat for the final charge.

“He’s starting to get healthier (after a knee injury) and it showed tonight,” Kramer said. “ I thought he was a beast on the boards and very physical on the offensive end.”

“I started off kind of slow (with missed shots early),” Czarnowski said, “but my teammates didn’t give up on me and kept getting the ball to me.

“Things started falling in the second half (12 of 22 shooting as a team). We started finishing, and it was everybody really. We had a hard time putting the ball in the basket early, but eventually things started falling and I thought we looked really good out there.”

The playmaking of Ian Lewandowski (eight assists) helped th Redhawks get in the flow. Austin Pauga (eight points) provided a big spark with the first five points of the third quarter, and Kevin Linne (six points) was 4 for 4 from the line in the final minute.

“We struggled the last two or three games, and it carried over in the first half,” Kramer said. “But we were getting our shots and competing. In the second half we just came out of it, and a lot of it was just gutting it out and fighting through the frustration, slowing down and making baskets down the stretch.

“It was a great team effort and a big win for us.”

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