Geary, Grayslake North block Johnsburg

Jake Geary didn’t have to show much offense on Friday night for Grayslake North’s boys basketball team.

But Geary’s sure defense did the trick, igniting the offense in a cruical spot during the fourth quarter.

The Knights ran away with a final-quarter flurry and defeated visiting Johnsburg 59-43 in a Fox Valley Fox Division game in Grayslake.

Geary read the drive of Johnsburg’s Mike Dombrowski (16 points) and made a clean block of an attempted shot. Then he sent the ball downcourt and assisted on a layup by A.J. Fish (14 points) with 3:58 left.

“I think it was a block, even though I wear double socks to make me taller,” chuckle Geary, who stands 5-foot-10. “In practice, we simulate guarding one another and I like to key on other guys’ spin moves.

“I just primarily look for that and the shot. It was some pretty good defense on that one.”

The big play from Geary was key in creating some breathing room for the Knights.

“I thought we were a little flat coming out in the fourth quarter,” said Geary, who also had 4 points and 4 steals. “We needed a spark and it’s always good to have good defense. It came down to a good possession and we got a score from it.”

Grayslake North (14-5, 6-2) led the entire game and took a double-digit lead into the third quarter. But Johnsburg (3-16, 1-4) kept chipping away and drew within 4 points, trailing 42-38 with 5:28 remaining in the fourth.

The Knights’ Mark Hall (6 points) started a 17-5 closing run with a short jumper; Teddy Ludwick followed up with a reverse layup on the next possession which put Grayslake North ahead 46-38 with 4:25 left.

“We needed to step it up — Johnsburg was getting back into the game and making shots,” said, Ludwick, who scored 9 of his game-high 15 points in the final quarter. “I just got lost behind the (Johnsburg) defense. (Johnsburg) started sending a guy doubling the ball. My guy left and I waited for things to come my way.”

The Knights’ David Sparks contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds.

“I thought we responded very well,” Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh said. “Dombrowski took the game over. He’s a four-year starter and had played in the sectionals the last few years. It was a handful to guard him.

“A little shot that doesn’t go your way, and then it snowballs out to an 11-point lead and we go on from there.”