Wrather good, Warren better

As Lake Forest coach Ray Werner was wrapping up spilling superlatives about Larry Wrather's performance and gushing equally about his friendly off-the-court personality, Wrather stood nearby doing one of the things that defines him.

Called a "hugger" by Werner, Wrather was busy giving, of course, friendly hugs to the opposing players. He shared an embrace with Warren's Mike McGowan, then Ryan Schuette, then Derrick Norris.

All of them, understandably, wore smiles. All of them, indeed, had earned congratulatory embraces and handshakes.

I am (a hugger)," Wrather said with a smile. "Just a friendly guy. I know most of the (Warren) guys."

No. 2 seed Warren prevailed 25-16, 22-25, 25-22 in the second sectional semifinal at Stevenson on Friday night to earn a berth in Tuesday's 7 p.m. sectional final against top-seeded Buffalo Grove. But Wrather nearly lifted the third-seeded Scouts to the upset.

"Too many of those games this year, too many close ones," a relieved McGowan said.

Wrather, a chiseled, athletic, 6-foot junior, finished with 14 kills.

"How much fun was it to watch Larry play?" Werner said. "There were points when I just I went, 'Is there anyone else on our team?' He just single-handedly said, 'Let's go, guys. I want to carry you to (the) sectional (final).' "

After Warren (34-4) won the opening game, taking advantage of 4 missed serves and several other unforced errors by Lake Forest (29-7), Wrather started to take over. He pounded 7 kills in the middle game, most of which bounced hard and high on Stevenson's court.

"We couldn't figure him out on the block," McGowan said. "Whenever he was in the back row, there was only one block up. It was really hard to adjust to him. But you know what? You can't win the match with just one player."

Warren built a 6-1 lead in the decisive game and enjoyed a 13-7 advantage after a block by Jeff Halvorsen, but a kill by Wrather and a block by Greggory Warfield started Lake Forest on a 5-0 run. The Scouts crept within 17-16, as their fans started chanting, "Lar-ry, Lar-ry" and finally pulled even at 19-19.

But a Lake Forest miscue broke the tie, and the Scouts then served two balls long in falling behind 24-22.

When the Scouts couldn't handle a spike from Schuette -- his 11th kill -- Warren had its sectional-final berth and second three-game win over Lake Forest this year.

"They have a lot of good hitters," Schuette said. "In the end Larry took it over (but) we were able to stop him (when it counted most)."

"The first game was a little rough," Wrather said. "But we picked it up, and kept our heads up the second game and third game."

McGowan gave credit to Warren's loud and supportive fans for helping the Blue Devils prevail down the stretch.

"We were just trying to have fun out there -- never get down on ourselves, always have a smile on our face," the senior middle said. "Because that's what got us down earlier in the season."

"Two very solid teams," Werner said. "It's fun to watch. It's fun to coach. It's fun to be a part of it, making an adjustment here, making an adjustment there, and seeing which player steps up and makes plays."