Neari, North Stars shoot down Fremd

For the first three-plus quarters, Nick Neari couldn't find his shooting touch.

During the last four minutes, he couldn't miss.

Neari, who began the game by hitting just 1 of his first 12 shots from the field, connected on his last six field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining to lift St. Charles North (15-5) to a 52-49 nonconference victory over Fremd (8-11) Saturday night in St. Charles.

The 6-foot-3 senior guard caught fire at the right time, scoring his team's final 14 points in the last 3:41 as the North Stars rallied from a 46-38 deficit.

But it was his last shot that will be remembered most.

Neari, who scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter, launched a 25-footer that banked in off the backboard, giving the North Stars their first lead since the midway point of the second quarter (when they were ahead 17-16).

It may not have been exactly what he wanted to do - but it worked.

"Heck, no," said Neari when asked if he tried to bank in the eventual game-winner. "I even shot it too early but I figured that I might as well."

With 14 seconds remaining and the score tied at 49-49, North Stars coach Tom Poulin called his team's last timeout in order to set up a play.

"Our last words were 'attack,' " recalled Poulin. "Then Nick banked in the shot with 8 seconds left. He didn't run what we said we were going to do but he deserved it."

Fremd, coming off a tough 55-53 loss to Mid-Suburban rival Conant Friday night, led the game for most of the way, as Chris Klimek (15 points, 11 rebounds), Dan Bruno (13 points) and Joe Depaolis (12 points) combined for 22 of the team's 24 second-half points.

It was Klimek's 3-point play with 3:59 remaining that extended the Vikings' lead to 46-38.

"We came back with a very good attitude after (Friday) night's loss," said Vikings coach Bob Widlowski. "I thought we played very well until the last three minutes of the fourth quarter.

"The lack of stops in that fourth-quarter span gave them the opportunity down there at the end."

Neari began the North Stars' comeback with two baskets within an 8-second span - the second coming off his own steal - to make it 46-42 with 3:43 left.

After Bruno made a pair of free throws to put Fremd on top 49-44 with 1:51 remaining, Neari answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and a layup to tie the game at 49-49 with 1:12 left.

Moments later, the North Stars regained possession on a jump ball and ran the clock down, setting the stage for Neari's heroics.

Jonathon DeMoss and Zach Hirsch added 10 and 9 points, respectively, for the North Stars.

"We were very lucky to come out with a win," said Neari, who said that he hadn't hit a game-winning shot since grade school. "The ball bounced our way."