Grant 64, Round Lake 62
No matter how a team's season is going in a particular year, there are certain rivalries in any sport where you can throw overall win-loss records out the window.
Bears-Packers.
Cubs-Cardinals.
Grant Bulldogs-Round Lake Panthers.
The two teams played a thrilling 32 minutes of basketball in Fox Lake as the host Bulldogs prevailed 64-62 on Grant's Senior Night.
With 1:09 remaining in the game and Grant leading 61-60 after 2 clutch free throws by junior A.J. Spohr, Round Lake took the lead back on an acrobatic left-handed scoop shot by Vernon Randolph, who finished with a game-high 31 points.
The Bulldogs (14-8, 5-5 in the North Suburban Prairie) then worked the ball around the perimeter, letting the clock tick down to 15 seconds, where another junior, Gilbert Sheehan, banked in a 8-footer from the right side for a 63-62 advantage.
After a Round Lake timeout, the Panthers took the ball the length of the court and got a great look with a 3-pointer by Jeff Nicoline that rolled off the rim.
Round Lake got a second chance but the ball then went into the arms of Grant's Curtis Oler, who was fouled with less than a second left on the clock. Oler (16 points) made the first free throw and missed the second and the Panthers could only manage a desperation heave as time expired.
"It was just another back-and-forth battle, just your typical Round Lake-Grant basketball game as it came down to the wire," said Round Lake coach Jeremy Fisher.
"When you play these rivalry games," said Grant coach Phil Ralston, "you know that many times you can throw out the records and you know it's going to be a close game no matter what."
Both teams had stellar performances from multiple players. Senior forward Marc Grischeau led the way for Grant with 20 points, including a coast-to-coast steal and slam that brought the crowd to its feet in the first quarter, as well as putting on a display of defense and hustle.
"Round Lake, they are cross-town rivals, but you got to bring it every game. There's no reason not to bring it," said Grischeau.
Senior Jerome Brown contributed 19 points for Round Lake. Mike Mpokota chipped in with 8 points for the Panthers.
Ralston pointed to future matchups with top area teams as a real measuring stick for the rest of the season.
"We've got Highland Park coming up on Tuesday and Stevenson the week after that," Ralston said. "It doesn't get any easier from here. It is going to be tough, tough games and we need to see where we are at."