Richards 63, Neuqua Valley 42
CHICAGO -- Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton and Richards coach John Chappetto agreed -- Richards' boys basketball team held the edge in quickness.
After Tuesday's Class 4A Chicago State University supersectional Sutton restated the extent of it.
"That was our biggest concern," he said, "and it was a little bit bigger than I thought."
More Coverage Stories Neuqua Valley feels the pressure [03/12/08]
Neuqua Valley committed 23 turnovers, many unforced in a particularly unhinged second half for the Wildcats, as Richards won 63-42.
"Just the pressure, it droves us insane," Sutton said after Neuqua Valley's first supersectional game.
"We're not able to run up and down with them, we've got to run offense. And we didn't run offense tonight."
The Bulldogs, headed downstate for the first time to play a Class 4A semifinal Friday against Lockport, a 50-47 winner over O'Fallon, led just 28-24 at halftime.
Neuqua Valley (25-8) committed 7 third-quarter turnovers, allowing Richards to post a solid 45-31 lead entering the final quarter.
Richards point guard Eliud Gonzalez, who joined 6-foot-5 teammate Carl Richard with 12 points behind Bulldogs 6-7 center Shaun Pratl's game-high 16 points, rolled his right ankle late in the second quarter.
Without Gonzalez, Neuqua Valley cut a 9-point deficit to 25-24 before Richards (28-4) scored in transition and on a free throw.
With Gonzalez back in the third quarter, Neuqua Valley turned the ball over five times in a seven-possession stretch.
"I just didn't want to let my teammates down," he said.
Chappetto added: "Eliud Gonzalez is the difference-maker. I don't know if we win if he doesn't play that second half. He got us under control, we hit some big shots in that third quarter, and separated. And once we separated, we were able to hang on, and we're going to Peoria."
Trying to book their first reservation, Neuqua Valley attempted a press in the fourth quarter to get back in the game. That didn't work well against Richards' blend of athleticism and height.
"We had to rush a lot of things, and we had to pressure them," said Neuqua senior guard Anton Wilkins.
"And when we started to pressure them, of course that led to them attacking the basket and dishing off to either post guy for, you know, a backwards dunk or basket."
To the dismay of Neuqua's stellar fan support, Richards led 7-0 on Tommie Thomas' dunked off a Pratl steal.
"I don't know how we weren't down by 50 to that team in the first 10 minutes," said Wildcats senior center Dan Pawelski.
They weren't because point guard Nolan Brown also brought his quick hands, netting 2 early steals that led to Pawelski, Derek Raridon and Dwayne Evans baskets.
Neuqua tied -- once at 9-9 -- and trailed Richards 15-13 after a quarter. While Richards continued its half-court pressure so did Neuqua, forcing 12 first-half turnovers.
The Wildcats' 8-0 run, on a Brown pullup jumper, two Evans baskets and a Brad Keeler lay-in -- the last two baskets off Steve Waeghe steals -- had Neuqua in position by halftime.
Richards upped the ante to stall Neuqua's search for a big trophy.
"It was awesome, the first team ever to win sectionals," said Pawelski, who joined Evans with 12 points. "I hope next year's team does it, and every team following. I want this program to do great, and hopefully we can get some recognition now."