Boys Basketball: St Charles North edges out Batavia

Updated: December 2, 2011 10:41PM

Despite rough shooting and a low scoring first half, St. Charles North pulled out a victory over Batavia, 41-36, on Friday night as each team began Upstate Eight Conference play.

The North Stars (2-3 overall, 1-0 UEC River Division) got key blocked shots and boards from Kyle Nelson (10 rebounds, four blocks) and an energy-inducing pair of jams by junior guard Quinten Payne (13 points) to ignite a close, triumphant finish.

“Our leadership really gave us a push,” said Payne who, less than 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, drove passed three defenders on the baseline and stuffed home a dunk to give his team the momentum they needed and made the packed home crowd go wild.

Pinpoint shooting helped the North Stars take an early lead as they hit 5 of 9 shots in the first quarter and took an 11-7 advantage into the second quarter.

Six-foot-6, 240-pound center Cole Gardner (13 points on 6-of-13 shooting, five rebounds), owned the low post in the first half and helped his team go into halftime tied at 15-15.

“They [North Stars] played real tough defense and double teamed me more,” said Gardner who sat much of the second half due to foul trouble.

Keeping Gardner- who is fielding football scholarship interest from Vanderbilt and Miami University, among other teams- off the court was one of the keys according to North Stars coach Tom Poulin.

“He is a load and they are not the same team when he is off the floor,” said Paulson.

“We had a couple of turnovers at critical times and didn’t finish at the free throw line,” said Bulldogs coach Jim Roberts whose team goes to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the UEC.

St. Charles North takes on Crane at the CPS Holiday Shootout Saturday while Batavia visits Quincy.

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