Answering questions about Naperville Central
Daily Herald sports writer Kevin Schmit has covered Naperville Central's boys basketball team all season. Fellow sports writer Dave Oberhelman has done likewise with Neuqua Valley's team. Heading into Friday night's showdown between the cross-town rivals in the Class 4A Oswego East sectional final, they have some questions for each other about their team of expertise.
Q. Hey, Kevin: Does Naperville Central have enough support for Drew Crawford to win?
A. Well, Dave, that's exactly how the Redhawks have won all season - plenty of Crawford, and plenty of support.
The consistency is uncanny, for instance, watching Naperville Central in the flow of its half-court offense.
Crawford's dribble penetration is a thing of beauty. There's no better finisher, but he also can kick to the perimeter for David Mallett, Nick Linne and Danny Ondik to knock down 3-pointers. He'll also feed 6-foot-5 Matt Neufeld for a bucket in the post.
Consider it a package deal. The Redhawks can't win without Crawford and they can't win without a supporting cast.
It's taken a team to win the outright DuPage Valley Conference title, a regional crown and to earn a spot in tonight's sectional final.
And when you talk about support, don't forget head coach Pete Kramer. Perhaps no area coach recognizes his talent better than Kramer, who put all his pieces in perfect places this season.
Q. Given the Redhawks' recent bouts with foul trouble, do they have the necessary depth in case the fouls mount up?
A. All teams shorten benches in the playoffs, and Naperville Central is no different.
The Redhawks went eight deep in Wednesday's sectional semifinal against Bolingbrook, but it would have been fewer if Crawford hadn't fouled out in the final two minutes and if Ondik and Neufeld hadn't picked up a fourth foul.
There's no way to sugarcoat it - the Redhawks simply can't afford the foul trouble they've survived of late. Crawford's fifth foul on Wednesday could have been disastrous, but everyone else did a tremendous job stepping up.
Ondik's ballhandling ability at point guard is also critical. He fouled out against West Aurora, but by that point the outcome was secure.
In their toughest matchup of the season, against Neuqua Valley, expect a very short bench unless extreme foul trouble strikes again.
Q. How does Naperville Central win this game?
A. First and foremost, Crawford just needs to be Crawford. If he hits his averages and plays his typical defense of blocking and altering shots, his job will be done.
The matchups are far tougher elsewhere, especially for Neufeld against Neuqua Valley's forceful post game of 6-5 Dwayne Evans and Kareem Amedu.
Linne and Mallett must be hot from the perimeter when Crawford forgoes his own shot to kick the ball to them. Ondik must again stand tall against Neuqua Valley's ball pressure.
Defensively, the Redhawks' matchup zone has to slow the Wildcats' multipronged attack that becomes devastating when Derek Raridon's raining 3s. It'll obviously help if Neuqua Valley's shot is struggling like it did in the regional semifinals against Benet.
It may not take a perfect game to beat Neuqua Valley, but it'll take Naperville Central's best game of the season.