Benet bounces Naperville North

In many ways, Benet's Dec. 9 game against Naperville North seems like a season ago.

For the Redwings, though, it felt like only yesterday.

Avenging a punishing loss from nearly three months ago, Benet's boys basketball team advanced to the Class 4A Batavia regional semifinals with Monday's 55-54 victory over Naperville North.

Joe Meyerhoff made the second of two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to give Benet its winning margin. Naperville North tried to set up a decent shot in the final 1.7 seconds, but Matt Hasse's long-range attempt went off the mark.

Benet's reward isn't pretty - a Tuesday game against Neuqua Valley (27-1), the top seed in the Oswego East sectional. But at this point the No. 17 Redwings (12-14) are just happy to still be playing ball.

"We thought this was going to be a measure of how much better we think we've gotten over the course of the year," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp, referring to his team's 65-33 loss to the Huskies. "I think we're playing as well as we've played."

Sixteenth-seeded Naperville North (12-15) erased three double-digit leads including an 11-point hole after Benet's Dave Sobolewski hit two free throws with two minutes, 57 seconds left to put the Redwings ahead 51-40.

The Huskies responded with a 14-3 run through a flurry of plays and 3-of-8 free throw shooting by Benet. Naperville North ultimately tied the game at 54-54 on Emerson Beck's 3-pointer with 9 seconds left.

Following a Benet timeout, Sobolewski raced down the court and found Meyerhoff on the left baseline. The 6-foot-8 senior was fouled as he rose to pass the ball to Phil Hayes on the right wing, setting up the winning free throw.

"Last time we played them we were completely off to start the game and they got out big on us right away," said Meyerhoff, who tallied 14 points as one of four double-digit scorers for Benet. "We started out 12-2 today and I think the good start helped us."

Austin Wagner hit four 3-pointers to lead Benet with 16 points. Sobolewski scored 11 points and Hayes added 10 points. Joe McNicholas scored a game-high 17 points for Naperville North while Danny Grimley had 10 points.

"It was a hard-fought game and you've got to tip your hat to Benet," said Huskies coach Mark Lindo, whose team won its final five regular-season games. "Our young men showed incredible character and growth. Confidence breeds confidence, and I think that really took place the last month of the season."