Naperville North topples rival Naperville Central

After a slow start to the season, things appeared to be looking up for the Naperville North basketball team.

Three straight wins and the consolation title at the York holiday tournament, and the anticipation of welcoming injured senior forward Matt LaCosse back to the lineup on Friday night, just in time for a visit from cross-town rival Naperville Central.

Then, just like that, things weren't so rosy.

Still, the Huskies pulled out a 56-50 win.

An obviously pressing LaCosse went to the bench with his third foul late in the first half, which was followed by a 9-0 Naperville Central run for a 24-18 halftime lead. LaCosse then fouled out less than three minutes into the third quarter, with the Redhawks seeming to take control by opening a 33-26 advantage.

But the confidence and experience that the Huskies — especially forwards John Mengel and Jake DuPre' — gained in LaCosse's absence paid dividends as they fought back to post the DuPage Valley Conference victory.

“We had been playing without Matt for the whole season, and me and Jake just had to play big down low and we were able to do that,” said Mengel, who had 14 points and 8 rebounds, while DuPre' contributed 13 points and 5 offensive boards.

While Mengel was dominant in the paint, the consensus was his most pivotal contribution to Naperville North's effort came 21 feet from the basket when he banked in a 3-pointer under duress from Naperville Central's David Niggins as the third quarter buzzer sounded. The shot pulled Naperville North (7-6, 3-1) within 33-31 and set the stage for a 25-point fourth quarter.

“I thought the 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter broke our back,” said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer. “David was right on him, but he hit the shot, give him credit. Then the fourth quarter came and we didn't execute down the stretch. That will hurt you, especially on your rival's floor.”

Niggins' all-around play and the hot 3-point shooting of Bryce Kirk had kept the Redhawks (5-9, 0-4) in charge, but they were dealt a blow early in the fourth quarter when rapidly maturing freshman center Nick Czarnowski injured his left ankle, forcing him to the bench where a bag of ice and pair of crutches waited.

Mengel followed his buzzer-beater with another 3-pointer in the fourth while DuPre', Matt Stacho, Nick Buege and Jovonn Griffin all contributed points in Naperville North's 15-7 run to open the final quarter that put them firmly in control at 46-40 with 2 minutes, 33 seconds to play.

“It was Matt's first game back and he was a little rough and rusty, but we've won five of six games with the other guys, so we had confidence,” said Naperville North coach Jeff Powers. “I just said one basket at a time and let's play defense — let's get a bucket, then get a stop, get a bucket, then get a stop, and we were able to do it on the defensive end.”