Boys Basketball: Leyden gets by Timothy Christian in OT

As a key reserve for Leyden, Jonathan Woolf is well-aware that he must be ready to step in at any time.

And the junior forward provided an important spark for the Eagles in a 52-43 overtime win over Timothy Christian Friday night in the third-place game of the Glenbard West Holiday Classic.

“I know I have to be ready to go when coach (Bill Heisler) tells me to go in, so I watch the games very closely when I’m on the bench,” said Woolf, who contributed eight points for the Eagles. “I watch closely so that I know what we’re doing when I go out there, and I can look for some weaknesses in the other team.”

With only a third-quarter free throw next to his name in the scorebook, heading into the fourth quarter and the game tied at 30-30, Woolf played a key role in helping bring the Eagles (8-4) back to force overtime after Timothy (9-5) had grabbed a 37-32 advantage on a 15-footer by Danny Leach (16 points) with five minutes remaining in the fourth period.

A three-pointer by Woolf pulled Leyden within 37-35 with 4:27 to go. With Timothy holding a 39-37 advantage, he then blocked a shot with 1:23 left to get the ball back for the Eagles. Woolf’s 5-footer with :56 to play in the fourth quarter tied the game, 39-39, and accounted for the final points of regulation.

Leyden never trailed in the overtime period, as senior guard Alex Herrera (15 points) converted all eight of his free throws.

“(Woolf) gave us a lot of energy and made some plays, and once we got the lead and got Alex to the line, he doesn’t miss free throws,” Heisler said.

Leyden looked as if it might blow out Timothy early, opening a 9-0 lead, before Leach made a three-pointer with 1:26 left in the first quarter.

Leyden led, 9-3, after the first period and 21-17 at halftime.

“We had the chance to really put them away in that first quarter and didn’t do it,” Heisler said. “We had a 9-0 lead with the ball several times and didn’t convert.”

Along with Leach, Tyler Vanderbrug helped to keep the Trojans in the game,

making five three-pointers to account for all 15 of his points.

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