Boehm has Lakes beaming in win over Grayslake North

Chris Boehm missed the first half of the basketball season with a broken wrist.

Since the senior guard has returned to Lakes' lineup, he has added substantial shooting help.

Boehm has a knack for scoring in the second half of games, too, just like he did Wednesday night. He scored 17 of his season-high 21 points after halftime, and John Androus added 15 points and 11 rebounds, as the Eagles soared past Grayslake North 64-44 in the Class 3A Grayslake Central regional semifinals.

"We've been known to build a lead and give it up," Boehm said. "It was nice to get a lead and build it up."

Lakes (13-14) will meet top-seeded Grayslake Central in the regional final at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Lakes saw a double-digit lead start slipping away against Grayslake North, as the Knights pulled within 30-26 on Ross Sauer's jumper with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter. That's when Boehm hit his first of three 3-pointers to start the Eagles on a 20-7 run and a 50-33 lead at the end of the quarter.

"I didn't hit any 3s in the first half, but when I hit the first one, I started to feel something coming," Boehm said. "I just wanted to keep shooting. I give credit to John Androus finding me. He'll find me wherever I go."

Androus dished out a handful of assists in the third quarter and found Mike Scott for a couple of 3s.

"John is so good for us because he trusts the other four players on the floor," said Lakes assistant coach Jeff Tylka, who filled in for coach Brian Phelan, who served a one-game suspension. "We've been fortunate enough to have other guys step up over the last few games."

Lakes built a 25-12 lead midway through the second quarter, but Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh called a timeout and told his team, "Do you want this to be your last game?"

The Knights responded behind Matt Pucher, who scored 6 of his team-high 14 points during a 9-2 run that cut the Eagles' lead to 27-21 at the break.

"It seemed like we came out flat," Grunloh said. "We made some mistakes defensively and (Lakes) flat-out torched us.

"I wanted to remind the kids that we didn't have much urgency and the game wasn't over. I wanted to get a little fire underneath them. We did make a decent run at the end of the second (quarter). But in the second half, Boehm started hitting 3s and then Scott followed. We just couldn't stop them after that."

The Knights' Grant Hendricksen added 12 points and 6 rebounds.