'Once-in-a-lifetime' star Sauer lifts Grayslake North

Cary-Grove's basketball team welcomed the return of football heroes Chad McCarron and Ryan Barker this week.

Grayslake North was equally thrilled to have its own football star back on the court this week. That was especially true after Ross Sauer showed no rust in helping lead the Knights to a 57-42 win over the visiting Trojans on Thursday night.

"I seriously think he's like a once-in-a-lifetime leader," Knights coach Todd Grunloh said of A-student Sauer. "He just knows how to lead. The kid can easily coach the team. I'm not even joking. He's that good."

Unlike C-G's McCarron and Barker, Sauer didn't win a state championship in football last weekend. Grayslake North didn't even make the playoffs and Sauer didn't even play the final week of the regular season after the safety broke his left hand against rival Grayslake Central the previous week.

He received medical clearance to resume basketball Wednesday and played a JV game that night.

Sauer then came off the bench against Cary-Grove (1-3) and scored 10 points, including a 3-pointer. Point guard Matt Pucher led the Knights with a game-high 13 points and 5 assists, while Myles Siemsen (9 rebounds) and Teddy Ludwick (two 3s) also scored 10 points.

Grunloh raves about the intangibles Sauer brings to the Knights, and the 5-foot-10 senior guard understands his role.

"I feel it's my (responsibility) to learn everything about the offense and defense, and direct people, because I'm not the biggest scorer," said Sauer, who, yes, is interested in coaching someday. "My best quality is leadership."

Grayslake North (3-2) never trailed, surging to a 12-3 lead thanks in part to 3s by Siemsen and Sauer. The Knights' quick start came despite two starters picking up 2 fouls apiece early and going to the bench.

"We didn't take advantage of their foul trouble by being patient and running our offense," Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "We took numerous quick shots. They pressured us and trapped the first pass a couple of times and got some turnovers. That's been our trouble so far in the first five games. We haven't learned to take care of the ball yet."

Grayslake North continued to build its lead, extending it to 33-21 by halftime and 48-32 after three.

"(Cary-Grove) looked tired (in the second half)," Grunloh said. "That's just them being a little short-handed, and I think that's also a credit to our kids and how hard they work in practice."

Grayslake North had lost its final two games in the Richmond-Burton tournament.

"This was a huge game to bounce back," Sauer said. "It's definitely a great confidence booster."

Jon Guay led the Trojans with 12 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Matt Aulert added 8 points and 7 rebounds, and Matt Jones also scored eight. McCarron scored 4 points coming off the bench, while Barker played limited minutes.

Fatigue was definitely an issue for C-G.

"We've got four sophomores on the bench and they're not ready for (extended playing-time)," Schuetzle said. "Not including McCarron and Barker, we got, really, two seniors and a bunch of juniors. And (starting point guard Nick) Richter getting in foul trouble hurt us, too."