Grayslake N. 66, Antioch 42

Progress is what a high school basketball team strives for throughout a season.

And there's a different kind of progress -- long-term progress, which sees a team endure the speed bumps of being the new kids on the block, then winning the first playoff game in school history.

In their second year of varsity competition, the Grayslake North boys basketball team accomplished that goal on its home court with a 66-42 victory over Antioch in the first regional quarterfinal game in the Class 3A Grayslake North regional.

Grayslake North (8-19) struck early and often against the Sequoits, scoring the first 9 points of the game. Junior guard Brandon Schroth scored 7 of his 13 points during the stretch.

Knights coach Todd Grunloh explained why Schloth, not normally a starter, got the call in this game.

"The reason why Brandon got the start was because Rollin (Idlas) has the same thing as I do -- we've been sick as a dog the past few days as Rollin missed practice on Saturday."

With the Knights already up by 15 in the third quarter, the Knights also received a big lift from their big man, Tony Herman. He pumped in all of his 11 points, helping extend their advantage to 44-24.

"It seemed a bit easier since I was one of the taller players out there," Herman said. "I got those two early fouls in the first quarter and I really wanted to score some points and help my team."

Sophomore guard Matt Pucher also chipped in 12 points for Grayslake North, which meets Senn High School tonight at 7:30 in regional semifinal action.

Antioch, which finished 1-25, received a game-high 16 points from senior Lamarr Pottinger. Even though it was a difficult way to end his high school career, Pottinger remained positive and has hopes for future Antioch squads.

"I had fun with the sophomores, the freshmen and all of the juniors and fellow seniors on the team. I want to come back next year and see them watching and scouting the play-in game instead of playing in it."

That kind of attitude left a large impression with Antioch coach Mike Skinner, who only had high praise for Pottinger.

"He never quits," said Skinner. "He plays hard and aggressive and he has that kind of fire and passion that I like on my team."

Skinner also points to the same progress that Grayslake North made from the previous year as a measuring stick for his team next year.

"I'm happy about next year," Skinner said. "We will have a lot going on. We're going to some nice shoot-outs in the summer. We're going to do a lot more to prepare and not let this happen again as I will have a bit more time with this group next year."