Wheeling clutch down the stretch
After watching his team shoot only 4-for-10 from the free-throw line in the first half against host Elk Grove, first-year Wheeling coach John Clancy had some words for his players on the subject at halftime.
“I told them that if they wanted to be rewarded (at the line), they were going to have to be mentally tough,” said Clancy. “They responded in the second half.”
Did they ever.
Wheeling shot 14 of 15 from the line in the final two quarters, including 2 clutch ones when they mattered most.
With 2.5 seconds remaining in the game and the scored tied, Wildcats freshman guard Jeremy Stephani calmly swished 2 free throws to give the visitors a 57-55 boys basketball victory.
It was the initial Mid-Suburban East win for Clancy and ended a 23-game division losing streak.
“It’s been a rough road, but our guys have continued to work hard and battle all year,” Clancy said after a 10-game losing streak was snapped. “We’ve been unlucky at times, and I’m not exactly sure that we deserved to win tonight. Elk Grove outfought us a lot of the way, but for a change the ball bounced our way at the end.”
The Grenadiers (5-17, 1-7) took control in the second quarter, when guard John Lorenz grabbed 7 of his 9 rebounds and scored 8 of his game-high 21 points as Elk Grove led at the break 25-22.
The Grens stretched the lead to as many as 6 points midway through the fourth quarter, but Wheeling (5-15, 1-7) fought back at the 3-point stripe.
The Wildcats missed their first 11 3-point attempts, but Ricky Schwind (12 points) hit a pair of late ones. running mate Tyler Shapiro, who had a team-high 14 points — including 10 in the final quarter — nailed another trey to lead Wheeling to the late 55-55 deadlock.
With 10 seconds remaining, Elk Grove stole the ball and headed downcourt, but Schwind stole the ball right back and fed Stephani — who was fouled and sank the game winners.
Elk Grove had one last chance but Wheeling’s Billy Jamie stole the ensuing inbounds pass to seal the win.
“The bottom line is we gave up 35 points in the second half,” said Elk Grove coach Anthony Furman. “Our defensive effort was lacking.”
Austin Amann pitched in a dozen points for the Grens, who were 22-for-26 foul shooting.
Wheeling guard Nick Boyd added 13 points.
“We’ve got great kids on our team,” Clancy said. “After a win like this, you’d have to say our program is on the upswing.”