Naperville Central defeats Wheaton North for third time
Familiarity may bring comfort in some circles, but not in boys basketball.
Naperville Central and Wheaton North met for the third time this season, and for the third time the Redhawks pulled out a close one.
In Monday's Class 4A Glenbard East regional quarterfinals in Lombard, Naperville Central ground out a 50-40 win over DuPage Valley Conference nemesis Wheaton North.
The 19th-seeded Redhawks (13-14) advance to Tuesday's regional semifinals to face another DVC foe for the third time. They'll play No. 3 Glenbard East (22-3), which swept Naperville Central in two previous games.
"We played two very close games with (Wheaton North), and we had to beat them a third time," said Redhawks coach Pete Kramer. "That's never easy, and they found a way to do it. I'm extremely proud of them."
With both teams struggling offensively, Naperville Central won the game with defense. Jordan Wayhart hit a 3-pointer for the No. 14 Falcons (11-16) to pull them within 37-35 with 4 minutes, 57 seconds left in the game, but the Redhawks scored the next 6 points to build a 43-35 lead.
The Redhawks answered Jeff Schalk's 3-pointer, which narrowed the gap to 43-38, with 6 straight points to put the outcome to rest at 49-38 in the final minute.
Despite 33 percent shooting from the field, Naperville Central's defense thrived. Redhawks guards Bryce Kirk and Mike Schremp, who combined for 28 points, were about the only ones who showed offensive consistency.
"Before the game when I was warming up, I was hitting my shots," said Kirk, who hit four 3-pointers and scored 14 points. "When I took them in the game, I really felt good."
Wheaton North wasn't much better with 35 percent shooting. Its defense held Naperville Central scoreless for more than six minutes in the second quarter but managed only 7 points during that stretch.
Another 7-0 spurt pulled the Falcons within 25-23 midway through the third quarter. After the first quarter, though, they never led the game or tied it.
Schalk scored 9 points in a balanced effort for the Falcons. Nick Czarnowski scored 10 points off the bench for Naperville Central.
"It was kind of like we were always fighting to get over the top," said Falcons coach Jim Nazos. "We were right there within one or two possessions, We just never could get the basket to put us over."