SCN edges Streamwood

Trailing 39-26 entering halftime, the Streamwood Sabres boys basketball team had a large hill to climb.

The Sabres made it to the top of the hill, tying St. Charles North at 74-74 in the final seconds of regulation on a Marcus Lewis basket.

However, after taking their first lead of the game since a 5-0 start in the first quarter, the Sabres couldn't hold on as 6 points in overtime from Mike Lefelstein led the way for an 82-81 Upstate Eight Conference opening win for the North Stars at Streamwood.

"There was no doubt that we could come back," Lefelstein said. "That's been our motto ever since I got to St. Charles North."

A pair of free throws from Jonathan DeMoss provided the game-winning points while he also pulled down the final rebound ending the Sabres' chances.

Lefelstein led the way for the North Stars (3-2, 1-0), helping North take the commanding lead in the first half by tallying 14 of his team leading 21 points in the half.

But the Sabres (1-5, 0-1) roared back, cutting the deficit to 1 at 68-67 with 2:03 remaining in the game on a pair of Brian Brauer free throws.

"Every game's been close this year," said Streamwood coach Tim Jones. "We told them at halftime we're going to chip away, chip away."

Both teams struggled at the line in the final quarter with North going 11 of 20 and Streamwood 2 of 9.

"We made some mistakes down the stretch I guess," said North coach Tom Poulin. "It's always nice to learn from a win."

"Those missed free throws killed us," Jones said. "I think we would have won it if we hit our shots from the line. But they played their hearts out. It was a great game to watch though."

Brauer led the game with 25 points while Lewis added 22 for the Sabres. Contributing with Lefelstein for the North Stars were Josh Mikes (17 points) and Zach Hirsch (15 points). Mikes led the game with 12 rebounds.