Boys Basketball: Reid Berman’s late layup gives New Trier boost over Maine South

Updated: January 12, 2012 8:48PM

New Trier truly struggled scoring Thursday night at home, but the No. 8 Trevians put the ball in the basket when it mattered most.

Reid Berman’s off-balance layup with 1.6 seconds to go was the difference in New Trier’s 41-39 win over Maine South. The win improved the Trevians to 14-2 overall, and they remained atop the CSL South standings at 5-0. Maine South dropped to 7-9 and 2-3 in league play.

“It seemed like we missed every shot we took,” New Trier coach Scott Fricke said.

Trailing by seven with less than five minutes to play, the Trevians turned to Connor Boehm, who scored five points during a 7-0 run. The 6-foot-7 senior’s free throw with 1:47 left tied the game at 37-all.

The teams traded baskets before Maine South threw ball away on an in-bounds pass. New Trier held for the last shot, and Berman came though with the game-winner.

“I just took it by my man,” said Berman, who finished with six points. “I was either going to create for someone else or score.”

For the second time this week, the Hawks lost a close game in the final seconds. They led by three at the half and five by after three quarters and looked in control of the game early in the fourth.

But Maine South scored only one basket in the final eight minutes and six for the quarter. The Hawks also turned the ball over three times on in-bounds plays in the final two-plus minutes.

“This is a game that can make us better,” Fricke said. “It was a game we didn’t deserve to win.”

Boehm scored seven of his 12 points in the fourth. Austin Angel added 10 points for the Trevians. John Solari led all scorers with 14.

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