Wheaton North closes against Benet

Wheaton North hasn't had many chances to finish off close games this season.

When faced with the opportunity on Tuesday, the Falcons didn't disappoint.

Overcoming an early deficit and a manic fourth quarter, Wheaton North kept its composure late in a 72-64 win over visiting Benet.

"It was very wild, but we just stuck with it," said Falcons senior Zach Dungee, who scored a game-high 25 points.

Jeff Schalk's 3-pointer gave Wheaton North (7-15) the lead for good at 56-54. Benet (10-13) sliced a 5-point deficit to 63-62 with a pair of baskets by Dave Sobolewski, but Schalk's 3-point play boosted the margin back to 66-62.

After Sobolewski split a pair of free throws, Benet missed two front ends of one-and-ones. That opened the door for the Falcons to hit 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch.

Austin Wagner scored 15 points for Benet while Sobolewski and Dylan Flood had 14 points. Chris Bradley and Matt Matosian scored 11 points apiece for Wheaton North.

"I felt this was going to go right to the wire one way or the other," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp, whose team played without Joe Meyerhoff due to illness and Phil Hayes because of a fractured foot.

- Kevin Schmit

BOX SCORE

Wheaton North 72, Benet 64

Benet - Sobolewsi 4 5-8 14, Coffey 2 2-4 7, Morris 3 1-3 7, Runger 3 0-1 6, Wagner 4 3-4 15, Flood 7 0-0 14, Lantero 0 0-0 0, Maag 0 1-2 1. Totals 23 12-22 64.

Wheaton North - Small 2 4-6 9, Fitzpatrick 2 0-1 4, Dungee 6 10-13 25, Martin 1 0-0 2, Schalk 2 1-1 6, Nelson 0 0-0 0, Bradley 2 6-8 11, Matosian 3 2-3 11, Graham 2 0-0 4, Finley 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 23-32 72.

Benet 22 13 15 14 -64

Wheaton North 18 11 20 23 -72

3-point baskets: B: Wagner 4, Sobolewski, Coffey. WN: Dungee 3, Matosian 3, Small, Schalk, Bradley. Fouled out: B: Morris. Sobolewski.