Streamwood fades at the finish

Streamwood was on the verge of pulling off the biggest first-round upset of the 31st annual Wildcat Hardwood Classic boys basketball tournament at Wheeling.

When Marcus Lewis scored off a miss by Tem Esikiel with 43 seconds left, the Sabres had turned an 8-point deficit less than two minutes earlier into a 1-point lead on Notre Dame.

But three crucial mistakes helped Notre Dame (6-1) score the final 5 points and escape with a 78-74 victory Monday evening.

"We've been doing that all year," Streamwood coach Tim Jones said of the late rally by a team that has lost only once by double figures. "But all those little things come back and haunt us."

So, despite a 30-point performance by Esikiel, the Sabres (3-8) will play in today's 2 p.m. loser's bracket game against Wheeling (2-6), a 60-59 loser to St. Viator.

Notre Dame led 71-63 with 2:33 left on 2 free throws by Dallas Moreland (17 points). Esikiel hit a 3, Lewis (17 points) scored on a drive and Marcus Green (12 points) had consecutive drives in Streamwood's 11-2 burst.

But after Lewis' rebound basket, Streamwood lost Shawn Wallace (22 points) at the other end and he got a go-ahead 3-point play off a drive with 33 seconds left.

The Dons' Jake Everly drew a charge on Green that eventually led to a free throw for Mike DiGregorio (16 points) with 19.7 seconds left.

DiGregorio missed the second but Moreland tipped it out and possession stayed with the Dons, who were 25-for-38 on free throws to Streamwood's 12-for-17.

"We're our own worst enemies," Jones said. "We don't make some bright plays at the right times."

Moreland sealed it for Notre Dame with a free throw with 12 seconds left.

"We waited until the very end to play with a sense of urgency," said Notre Dame coach Tom Les. "Up until that point we didn't play like we normally do.

"(Streamwood) has got some kids who really went to the basket and made some good plays."