Naperville C. reaches Wheeling championship game

Naperville Central rallied from an 8-point deficit late in the third quarter and then rode a 13-point outburst by Drew Crawford in the fourth to advance to Saturday night's championship game of the 31st annual Wildcat Hardwood Classic at Wheeling with a 70-69 victory over Notre Dame.

The Redhawks (11-1) will play three-time defending champion Loyola Academy (8-4), a 71-69 overtime winner over North Chicago in the other semifinal.

A pair of 3-pointers by Danny Ondik in the final 12.7 seconds of the third quarter tied the game at 49.

"On any given night any shooter can get open," said Ondik, who scored 18 points. "Tonight, I got open looks, and thankfully, I was able to make them."

Crawford, who finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, was almost unstoppable in the fourth quarter, attracting double- and sometimes triple-teams, yet still finishing 13 of 19 from the field.

"We're used to it now," Ondik said. "He plays amazing night after night. If they don't double- or triple-team him, he can almost score at will."

"That's his time," said Redhawks coach Pete Kramer. "We beat a very good team. They're physical, and I thought our kids responded.

"I couldn't be prouder of a bunch of kids," Kramer said. "We put one together at the right time."

The Dons (8-2) rode the hot shooting of Jimmy Martin, who scored 29 points, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range, 5 in the second half.

Notre Dame had a chance to send the game into overtime, after a Crawford free throw gave Naperville Central a 70-67 lead with 10.2 seconds left. Billy Hughes made a basket with 2.5 seconds left, but his foot was on the 3-point line at the top of the circle. With Notre Dame out of timeouts, the Redhawks let the clock run out.

Matt Neufeld scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for the Redhawks. Mike DiGregorio scored 10 for the Dons and added 9 assists.