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Another close call for Grant against Marian Central

There have been several games already this season that Grant's boys basketball team would like to have finished differently.

Count Tuesday's as one of them.

The Bulldogs were right there, even getting a final shot that could've sent the game into overtime. But Marian Central escaped with a 79-76 victory in the final day of pool play at Jacobs' Hinkle Holiday Classic in Algonquin.

"It went right down to the wire and it was a close game," Grant coach Wayne Bosworth said. "I'm proud of my kids, the way they fought and competed. (Marian Central) had a couple of bounces that went their way, and they pulled it out."

The close losses are mounting for Grant (4-6, 1-2). They include an overtime loss to Lake Zurich, and another close call against Waukegan.

"We're right there with the big boys," Bosworth said. "We haven't got that one signature (win) yet. We want to knock off one of these big programs. We're getting closer and closer. We'll get there, and it's a matter of one to two possessions away from pulling out these games."

The Bulldogs had four players score in double figures. Kyle Dupree led the way with 19 points off the bench, which inlcuded five 3s. They also had James Mobley, Ben Kusiak and John Kerr score 14 points apiece.

"This game everything felt good coming in," said Dupree, who had his career-best scoring game. "Coming off the bench, I was giving energy to the team. I like to pick other people up on the court."

Marian Central (8-3, 2-1) was led by Adam Pischke, who produced a season-best 35 points, and Sam Ohlrich who finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds.

Pischke made three 3s in the final quarter.

"I got things going in the second half," said Pischke, who has scored in the 30s a few times already this season. "I didn't want to see us lose. We were playing terrible defense and (Grant) was scoring every possession and we couldn't get a stop. I wanted to take over for my team. I wanted to make sure we got the win. I felt like I could hit, and I did."

Marian Central held a 40-34 lead at the break. But Grant made sure it was going to stay in the game and trailed 58-55 going into the final quarter.

The Bulldogs took the lead briefly on a few occasions. But Pischke's successive treys gave the Hurricanes the late lead, and he helped protect it with a couple of free throws.

Grant did have one last opportunity, but a 3-pointer that was off the mark as time expired.

"It was back and forth - we knew whichever team got the break at the end would come out on top," Marian Central coach Curtis Price said. "(Grant) shot the ball very well from the second quarter on. They came out and made their shots. Every punch they gave us, we were able to punch back. Luckily, we had Pischke on our team."

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