Boys Basketball: Hornets win double OT thriller at Willowbrook

Updated: December 23, 2011 10:21PM

Seniors Dijon James and Phil George carried Hinsdale South to 85-78 double-overtime victory at Willowbrook Friday night.

Hinsdale South coach Vince Doran counts on his seniors in big moments and Dijon James and Phil George delivered Friday night.

James made a reverse layup and George went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line in the final minute of double overtime as the Hornets rallied to beat host Willowbook 85-78 in a West Suburban Gold thriller. Hinsdale South (4-5, 2-2) trailed 30-19 in the second quarter, but chipped away to eventually tie the game at 64 to end regulation on James’ layup. James finished with a season-high 25 points while George had 23 points. The Hornets went into extra time without leading rebounder Brock Benson, who fouled out with 27.8 to end the fourth quarter with 19 points and eight rebounds.

George had a chance to end the game in the first overtime, but missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Warriors (1-9, 0-3) had a game-high 27 points from Tiger Greene and 18 points from Josh Joiner. Willowbrook scored only two baskets in the second OT, coming within 79-77 on Edvina Mickevicius’

three-pointer with 57 seconds to go. Mickevicius finished with 17 points.

“Dijon played great. He stepped up like a senior should in key

moments,” Hinsdale South coach Vince Doran said. “That was his best

game of the year by far.”

James’ layup in the second OT gave the Hornets a 76-74 lead. He then stole the ball at midcourt and drove in to the basket, but was fouled. He made one of two free throws to give Hinsdale a three point lead.

Willowbrook scored eight consecutive points in the third quarter to take a 51-45 lead.

The Hornets went more than five minutes in the first half without a basket and fell behind by 11 points on Greene’s 15-foot jumper with 3:56 remaining before halftime.

Jerry Stoltz addded 12 points for Hinsdale, but fouled out with 4:38 to go in the fourth quarter.

“Those Willowbrook kid play hard every time we play each other,” Doran said. “You have to give them a lot of credit.”

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