Wauconda hopes win a sign of change

It wasn't an easy task for Wauconda's boys basketball team to make changes right in the middle of the season.

But with all the right moves, the Bulldogs just might be headed in the right direction.

Wauconda put forth its best team effort and pulled out a 54-52 victory over host Round Lake on Saturday night.

It was also the Bulldogs (6-13) first North Suburban Prairie division win after six straight losses. The Panthers dropped to 2-15 overall and 2-5 in the Prairie.

Wauconda had three players in double figures. Kyle Ryan scored a team-high 17 points, Matt Stonis added 16 and 8 rebounds and Tyler Gick chipped in with 12 points.

"Any day of the week we'll take a win," said Wauconda coach Scott Luetschwager, whose team goal is reaching 10 wins. "Kids battled hard, worked hard and shot the ball well.

"The guys are changing their roles and stepping into them nicely. It was nice to see them pull it out. We handled the ball well and we were patient when (Round Lake) pressed us. It came down to Round Lake making the mistakes and we capitalized on them.

The game went back and forth through the first three quarters with eight lead changes and five ties.

Round Lake had a 35-29 advantage with 7:45 remaining in final quarter after Marquis Jones hit a short jumper.

However, Wauconda put together a big momentum swing with a 12-1 run to lead 41-36 with 2:40 left. Ryan hit a well-timed 3-pointer which hit the front of the rim, bounced off the back glass and dropped in.

"I thought it was going to be a swish," said Ryan, who had four 3s and a buzzer-beater going into the half. "It was a big shot. Actually, 3s are the only thing I'm known for. Setting the tone was worth more than the buzzer-beater."

Round Lake tried to recover the rest of the way. The Panthers' Juddon Carter hit four of his seven 3s down the stretch en route to a game-high 22 points.

But Wauconda had an answer for each shot, by making layups against the Panhers' press and 6-of-7 free throws.

"Give credit to Wauconda, they played hard out there," Round Lake coach Howard Kravets said. "We gave up too many 3s. Wre didn't think too well and we gave up too many shots around the basket.

"We had a good effort, but not good enough. We've got to do a better job listening and doing what we need to do."

Jake Paulsen added 15 points for the Panthers.

Round Lake played without John Martinez, who sat out with a wrist injury that happened earlier in the week in practice.