Norton leads Downers North past Glenbard West

It wasn't a monumental effort by Downers Grove North's Kameron Norton against Glenbard West.

The 6-foot-6 senior scored 10 points with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots.

But having him on the floor most of the time was a plus over last month's game between the West Suburban Silver foes when Norton's foul trouble plagued the Trojans.

Friday he reigned in what he called "the stupid fouls." In doing so Downers North claimed a 40-36 win in Biester Gymnasium on Glenbard West's senior night.

With a combined 37 turnovers, just 16 field goals and the game tied 29-29 after three quarters, it could have gone either way.

"We've been in this situation many times," Norton said. "We've been here before, so we've got to close it out. We just hit big shots and big free throws, just close out the game. It's positive."

Downers North (9-14, 3-7) entered the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run courtesy of a jumper and free throw by Greg Petty, a Norton bucket inside, and a free throw from Nick LeBeau, who hit three 3s and scored 10 points.

Glenbard West (10-14, 5-6) answered with a big Tyler Warden 3 from the top of the key. Then Dave McCaffrey found Brian Emanuel cutting for an easy layup to bring the Hilltoppers within 35-34 with 1:50 to play.

"We like to play in that range, 40, 35 points, so that was our kind of game," said Warden, who scored 10 points to 8 for Emanuel.

Downers North hit 5 of 9 free throws - by Norton and James Sandifer, 2 biggies by Tom Benton followed by a Norton steal, with Sandifer icing it at 3.1 seconds.

"Offensively, we weren't doing what we were supposed to do, but we made it up on the defensive end with contested shots and rebounds," said Trojans coach Jim Thomas.

Glenbard West coach Tim Hoder, whose club never led though Emanuel knotted it 29-29 with 5 straight points, was sad seniors like Emanuel, McCaffrey, Bryant Venson, Chris Cochrane, Jud Anderson and Kevin Smith couldn't win on their night. Along with sympathy he had reasons.

"We shot terribly (12 of 41), we didn't make very good decisions, but our effort was there," Hoder said. "The kids were trying so hard and it didn't help, we played poorly. So in that regard it's very disappointing. When the kids play that hard you like to see them rewarded."