Waubonsee gets it done in OT

West Aurora product Tyrone Carey was asked the difference in overtime between the Waubonsee Community College men's basketball team and its rival from River Grove.

"We played harder than (Triton) did," Carey said. "We wanted it more. That was the difference."

In the championship game of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IV, Division II matchup Saturday night in Sugar Grove, WCC had an 11-point unanswered run in the extra session.

The dramatic spurt provided the backbone of the Chiefs' 89-83 victory.

WCC (25-8) earned a bid to play in the 16-team national tournament, which begins a week from Tuesday in Danville.

Triton had its season come to a close at 30-3.

Waubonsee had trailed the entire game, but the Trojans' largest lead of the game - 45-32 - was answered with a haymaker by the Chiefs.

Behind five players ultimately finishing in double figures, Waubonsee scored 40 of the next 60 points to take 72-65 lead late in the game.

"We stuck together," said St. Charles North alum Alex Goetz, who had three 3-pointers in finishing with 15 points from his point guard position. "Coach (Dave Heiss) had faith in us. Everybody made plays."

The most critical field goal Goetz converted was his final 3-pointer that tied the game for the last time at 77-77 early in overtime.

"That was a big 3," Heiss said.

The Chiefs' Demetrius Ewing, who came off the bench to score 12 points, followed with another 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.

Waubonsee was never tied nor trailed again.

"We had to lock on them defensively," said Carey, whose 15 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists earned him tournament MVP honors. "We had to get stops. It was the only way that we could win."

Waubonsee had twin chances to salt the game way in the final half-minute of regulation.

But back-to-back turnovers offered hope for Triton.

Dante Thorpe, who had a game-high 32 points, sent the game into overtime tied at 74-74 with a long 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds to play.

Thorpe drained another 3-pointer to open the overtime scoring, but it would be the Trojans' final lead after the crucial Goetz field goal from beyond the arc moments later.

"In the huddle (after regulation), I told the guys, 'We have come too far. Let's not give it away,'" Heiss said.

The Chiefs' athleticism in the backcourt was a major factor in the outcome.

"Our speed and quickness was definitely an advantage," Heiss said. "They had a hard time guarding us on the perimeter."

"We just couldn't stop them," Triton coach Steve Christiansen said. "I thought, by and large, they were just tougher than us."

Deon Ward had 21 points to lead Waubonsee; Germaine Roebuck had 18 points for the fifth WCC player to eclipse single figures.

WCC had 13 first-half turnovers in falling behind 35-25 at the break.

"We came out lackadaisical," Carey said. "We thought it was going to be easy."