Vernon Hills passes up Grant
A perfectly thrown pass from Chris Argianas to DaVaris Daniels was something the fans of Vernon Hills' football team got quite used to this fall. Now it seems that the same duo is hooking up again on the basketball court.
Though the passes are shorter, and usually worth 2 points as opposed to 6, the result is still positive for Vernon Hills.
When the basketball Cougars needed the play coach Matt McCarty called “the home run,” Daniels and Argianas were more than happy to oblige.
In a tight North Suburban Conference Prairie tilt against visiting Grant, Vernon Hills needed to get the ball inbounds to run out the clock and keep its perfect record intact.
Daniels burst up the court and Argianas hit the Notre Dame-bound Daniels in stride for a thunderous dunk. The slam put an exclamation point on a hard fought 63-59 win for the Cougars, keeping VH perfect at 8-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.
Grant (3-3, 0-2) suffered its second straight loss in the division.
“We don't practice that play a lot, but it just comes natural for us,” said Argianas who contributed 6 assists to go with 20 points. “Its tough to overthrow (DaVaris) but it's a little harder to connect on the smaller gym floor.”
Vernon Hills needed every one of Daniels' game-best 24 points. He scored the last 5, including a steal and 3-point play with 37 seconds to go to give the Cougars the lead for good at 61-59. It marked the third lead change of the fourth quarter and ninth of the night.
“We knew Grant would give us a fight because they are having a good season,” Daniels said. “This was good for us to get a close game because it's better to get that now then later on when you aren't so much used to it in the playoffs.”
Daniels was saddled with foul trouble most of the first half and Grant took full advantage. Trailing 21-10, the Bulldogs turned the tables with an 11-2 burst midway through the second quarter to take their first lead at 32-31.
The Cougars built a 57-53 advantage in the fourth quarter before senior Jerry Gaylor took over for Grant. He scored the last 6 points for the Bulldogs and finished with a team-best 16.
“(Jerry) plays above the rim all the time and just battles,” Grant coach Wayne Bosworth said. “When the game is on the line, we know he will come up and make big plays.”
Gaylor's last bucket with 1:10 to play gave Grant its last lead at 59-57 before Daniels scored the last 5 to secure the win.