Naperville Central gets an edge
When it comes to DuPage Valley Conference championships, Emma Donahue follows the motto that greed is good.
"We're sick of tying with them (Wheaton North) every year," the Naperville Central junior said. "We want it all to ourself, or at least share it with someone else. We're done with them."
The Redhawks made sure of that Monday, eliminating fellow two-time defending DVC champion Wheaton North from the race with a 60-54 win in Naperville.
Naperville Central (21-8, 11-2) can clinch at least a share of its third straight title by beating Glenbard North on Thursday. WW South also has two DVC losses with two games left.
Naperville Central is 11-1 since losing at Wheaton North Jan. 8. It is the fifth straight year Wheaton North won the first meeting and Naperville Central the rematch.
"I really want to win conference this year," said Redhawks senior Emma Ondik, "and this was the game that was going to stop us, if anything. Winning games like this is even better, because it's so competitive and such a grind."
Maddie Baillie's corner 3-pointer Wheaton North's 12th of the game gave the Falcons (16-8, 9-4) their last lead at 53-52 with 55 seconds left.
At the other end Ondik was fouled and made two free throws with 42.2 seconds left to nudge Naperville Central ahead. Wheaton North's Fantasia Vine was called for traveling, and Ondik made 2 more free throws.
Baillie missed a contested 3-pointer, and a pair of Donahue free throws all but ended it.
Naperville Central went 12 of 13 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, Ondik making all 6 of her attempts in the final minute.
"I was working on them in practice," said Ondik, an 80 percent foul shooter who was an uncharacteristic 6 of 11 on Saturday against West Chicago. "I was a little nervous. Usually I'm pretty confident at the line. We made them late, which was helpful."
Ondik finished with 29 points, only eclipsed this season by her personal-high 41 against Marian Catholic in December. She scored 15 in the first half, sat for the last 1:52 of the third quarter and first 90 seconds of the fourth with four fouls, and returned to score 12 points down the stretch.
"She's just improved so much," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said, "and she was very good when she came here. She was just tremendous tonight."
Naperville Central, which led 31-29 at the half, trailed 41-36 after Ondik left with four fouls. But Donahue scored the Redhawks' last 5 points of the quarter, and it was 43-40 heading into the fourth.
Donahue had 18 points and 13 rebounds and grabbed 5 of Naperville Central's 12 offensive rebounds. Wheaton North gave up 21 to Naperville North Saturday.
"Donahue killed us on the boards. We have to get a little bit tougher down low," Falcons coach Dave Eaton said. "Offensively, our kids played well, we shot the ball well from behind the arc again, but like I told them at the end of the game it comes down to getting stops in the fourth quarter. We didn't get stops. In the fourth quarter we played not to lose, and didn't play to win."
Baillie scored 14 points for Wheaton North, hitting four of the Falcons' 3-pointers. Vine added 10 points and 8 rebounds and Sydney Sharkey 10 points.