Kelley leads ACC to 9th straight win

The Driscoll boys basketball team picked the wrong guy to foul in crunch time.

Already having a solid game, Aurora Central Catholic stud Anthony Kelley nailed all four of his free throws in the final minute and finished with a game-high 21 points in the Chargers' 48-42 win over the Highlanders in Addison in a Suburban Catholic Conference game Friday.

"He can make his foul shots," ACC coach Nate Drye said of Kelley. "We've been relying on him to carry the offense a lot... he still had a good game, but we just never got anything going on offense."

The senior scored the first 3-pointer of the game, had a tiebreaking steal and dunk before the first half expired and had another dunk late in the fourth quarter that pushed the undefeated Chargers (9-0, 5-0) ahead in a convincing manner.

"That Kelley kid is a load," Driscoll coach Adam Szyszko said.

ACC did not take its first double-digit lead until late in the third quarter after a 3-pointer from Brian O'Donnell that gave the Chargers the 36-24 advantage. Though it never led at any time in the second half, Driscoll (4-4, 1-3) kept it close.

The Highlanders were able to cut the Chargers' lead to 41-37 after a basket from Matt Kaban (12 points, 7 rebounds) with 2:30 left in the game. Right after that, however, was Kelley's second dunk and a huge block from Nick Czaja.

Kelley's clutch free throws came in handy before and after Matt Woods hit a 3-pointer with 25.3 seconds remaining. Austin Baker ended up leading Driscoll with 14 points and 9 rebounds.

"You always have to look over your shoulder with (Driscoll)," Kelley said. "They are always going to be right by you. They are a tough team and they don't give up."

Mike Adams finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds for ACC, which outscored Driscoll 12-5 in the third quarter, thanks to Adams' 7 points. He hit a key 3-pointers that was part of a 7-0 run.

"He was just awesome to start the second half," Drye said.

The weekend does not get any easier for the Chargers, who have to travel to Marmion tonight for their rival game against the Cadets.

"You have to win the first one to even worry about that," Drye said.

Of all 9 opponents the Chargers have beaten this season, Driscoll was the team that came the closest to topping the them. ACC has defeated its opponents by almost 22 points a game.

"I told the kids in the postgame I was really proud of their effort," Szyszko said.