Driscoll comeback ends in OT defeat
Mark Adams' steal and two-hand jam with two minutes left looked like the exclamation point on Aurora Central's showdown with fellow Suburban Catholic Conference unbeaten Driscoll Saturday night.
Turns out the fun was just starting.
Adams' dunk sent a standing-room only crowd in Aurora into a frenzy, putting the Chargers up 9 points with only 2:11 remaining.
Aurora Central still led by 7 points with 25.2 seconds left, only to see Driscoll drain a trio of 3-pointers, including Jake Lindfors' bomb from 30 feet at the buzzer, to force overtime.
The Chargers regrouped in the extra four minutes. Adams scored the Chargers' first 8 points, leading them to a thrilling 77-73 victory that leaves them alone in first place as they bid for their first SCC title in school history.
"That was the most intense game we've ever played here that I've been a part of," Adams said. "That was huge coming out with this crowd and finishing off the game after that big shot (by Lindfors)."
With the exception of a brief 33-32 lead for Driscoll (11-5, 4-1) midway through the third quarter, the Chargers led all night. Aurora Central (15-1, 6-0) held a 39-38 advantage entering the fourth quarter, then the teams scored nearly as many points in the final quarter and overtime, 38-35.
Lindfors battled foul trouble in the first half, totaling just 4 points and 1 rebound. The 6-foot-10 Albany-bound senior responded in the second half to finish with 29 points and 10 rebounds.
He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, the final 3 coming with his team trailing 67-64. Mark Brauweiler split a pair of free throws with 4.2 seconds left, Lindfors grabbed the rebound, dribbled up court and let his shot fly while colliding with an ACC defender.
The shot banked in, setting off a wild scene as Lindfors and his teammates celebrated an amazing comeback. Dan Kadlec and Justin Hejza also hit 3s in the final 25 seconds while the Chargers missed 2 of 4 free throws.
"We were all pretty stunned when the shot went in," Aurora Central coach Nate Drye said. "I can't tell you how proud I am of our guys because to come back from a situation like that is just unbelievable."
Driscoll's Matt Kaban and Hejza added 18 and 16 points, respectively. Adams paced the Chargers with 29.
Five players -- three for Driscoll -- fouled out. The Chargers made 25 of 36 free throws to Driscoll's 12 of 17, offsetting the Highlanders' 11 three-pointers.
"I thought it was a hard-fought game," said Driscoll coach Nick Latorre, whose team was without starting guard David Schwabe (sprained ankle).
"I thought our kids did a good job of never quitting. I thought Adams kind of took over down the stretch. Give them credit, it was a great high school basketball game. It was fun to be involved in it."