North Chicago 82, Senn 77

There are six baskets in the gym at North Chicago.

During some practices, each player on the team has to make three consecutive free throws before moving on to the next basket.

The twist?

If the free throw hits any part of the rim, you're starting over.

It's swish or bust.

Call it the basketball version of home run derby.

"The first five guys or so to finish don't have to run," junior DeShawn Chambliss said.

Chambliss won't have to do any running for awhile. He made 12 of 13 free throws Tuesday to help No. 1 North Chicago hold off Chicago Senn 82-77 in a Class 3A sectional semifinal at Antioch.

North Chicago (24-4) will play for the sectional title at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of tonight's game between No. 2 Grayslake Central and No. 6 Guerin.

North Chicago was 29 of 34 from the line. Senn, the No. 4 seed, was unable to capitalize as frequently (10 of 17).

Senn (18-6) trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs eventually cut the deficit to 76-75. After junior Joshua Wright made a pair of free throws with 44.7 seconds left, Senn missed three consecutive shots on one possession. Two free throws from Chambliss put the game away.

Despite fouling out with 3:46 remaining, North Chicago junior Keith Ford hit four 3-pointers on his way to 27 points. Chambliss contributed 24 points.

"When I fouled out, I talked to DeShawn and told him to win the game for me and that's what he did," Ford said.

North Chicago had no answer for Senn senior guard Robert James. He penetrated almost at will and finished with a game-high 29 points. Senior Lamar Clinton had 20 points.

The Warhawks were relentless on the offensive glass, and Senn often fouled on second-chance shots.

"We want to get in the bonus right away because we're so aggressive attacking the basket," North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman said. "That's why we've been shooting 150 or 200 free throws a night."

Grayslake Central coach Tim Bowen was impressed with the way North Chicago pushed the tempo.

"They move pretty quick from the defensive end into their offensive sets," he said. "They're able to get some easy shots in transition, and you have to guard everybody on the team."

While North Chicago played well in spurts, this was far from its best game.

"I we got a little overconfident with the season we're having," Chambliss said. "We have to be ready to play."

Coleman expects a better performance in the sectional final.

"We played an individual game and at times stopped focusing on team play," he said. "We'll be a different team Friday."