Wauconda is on a roll

The charge that Matt Mead took during the final minute of Saturday’s nip-and-tuck game against Antioch epitomizes the way Wauconda is trying to take charge of a season that was slipping away: with tough, hard-nosed defense.

“That’s what we’re trying to hang our hat on now,” Mead said.

Mead came up with one of the two biggest plays of the night for the Bulldogs, who started off the season 0-9 but have found new life by shifting more of their focus to the defensive end.

Wauconda won three of five games over the holidays by allowing just 45 points per game, nearly 20 points per game fewer than in its nine previous games.

The Bulldogs wound up finishing second at the Marengo holiday tournament and have now added to that momentum with a 47-44 victory over host Antioch that marks their first win in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division this season.

Wauconda, which never had more than a 5-point lead, now improves to 4-11 overall and 1-3 in the Prairie.

Before Mead literally stepped up, teammate Kyle Ryan made the winning basket with 36 seconds left when he canned a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 44-42 lead.

With Antioch trying furiously to make something happen on the other end, Mead then put his body on the line.

He positioned himself firmly in the lane as Antioch forward William Waschow came barreling toward him. Mead drew a charge with 24 seconds left and the Bulldogs were able to close out by making free throws.

“I knew that they were going to take it strong to the hoop,” Mead said. “I knew I just had to put my hands up straight and take it.”

Ryan had the same mentality. Just take it.

Even with the game on the line, he wasn’t about to be gun-shy when he was presented with an open look from three-point land. The Bulldogs were down 42-41 when he launched.

“I didn’t even think about it, honestly,” said Ryan, who scored 12 points for the Bulldogs, including 2 three-pointers. “If I’m open I’m going to shoot it. That’s all there is to it.”

Wauconda, which got limited minutes from leading scorer Tyler Gick, who is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in a sledding accident over the holidays, also got a game-high 14 points from 6-foot-8 senior Michael Obrochta, who was relentless on the boards and finished with 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. That helped Wauconda get valuable second chances at the basket.

In addition, Obrochta hit three straight free throws in the final 20 seconds to help seal the victory.

Meanwhile, Connor Rueb rounded out the double-figure scoring for the Bulldogs with 10 points.

“We hung in there and we had kids step up and make big plays,” Wauconda coach Scott Luetschwager said.

“And down the stretch, we played some really solid defense. That was a huge charge by Matt. He just stuck his nose in there and took that charge. It definitely turned the game in our favor.”

Antioch, which drops to 3-11 (0-4 Prairie), got 10 points apiece from Mike Siperko and Karl Nettgen and 9 points from reserve guard Emery Paramski, who connected on 3 three-pointers.

“This was a winnable game for us,” Antioch coach Mike Skinner said. “We’re just bad right now. We’re underachieving. We don’t have a sense of urgency and game after game we make the same mistakes. No box out, missed free throws, turnovers and no discipline.

“We have to play with more heart and compassion.”