Overtime experience benefits Glenbard West
Those five overtime games may have strained the nerves, but they paid off for Glenbard West's boys basketball team Monday night.
In their sixth and most important overtime game of the season, the Hilltoppers upset Oswego East 61-55 in the Class 4A Glenbard East regional quarterfinals in Lombard.
The 21st-seeded Hilltoppers (10-16), who survived a furious rally by the No. 11 Wolves (16-11) late in regulation, advance to Wednesday's semifinals to face No. 6 Waubonsie Valley (16-10).
"Going into the overtime, we know what it's like to be in that position," said Glenbard West junior Michael Mache, who scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. "I think that experience really helped us. Playing in the West Suburban Silver is a really tough conference and I think that helped us get ready for tonight."
Glenbard West led 50-44 with two minutes, 22 seconds left in regulation when Oswego East scored 8 straight points highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Adam Reaves. The senior guard hit five 3s in the game to finish with 19 points.
Pat Mazza scored for the Hilltoppers with just more than a minute left to tie the game at 52-52, and Glenbard West got a defensive stop in the waning seconds to send the game to overtime.
Reaves hit his final 3-pointer to put the Wolves ahead 55-54 with 3:39 left in overtime, but the Hilltoppers didn't allow another point. Matthew and Michael Mache both scored to give Glenbard West a 58-55 lead. Matthew Mache then nailed 3 of 4 free throws in the final 25 seconds to seal the win.
Oswego East made only 1 of 10 shots in overtime and shot 30 percent for the game.
"The kids battled," said Glenbard West coach Tim Hoder. "We've played so many close games. Our kids didn't panic, and I'm proud of them for that."
Fourteen lead changes and 12 ties epitomized a hectic game. Oswego East held its biggest lead of 5 points at the start of the game, while Glenbard West's 6-point advantage was its biggest.
Matthew Mache scored 12 points and Todd Lowery added 10 points for the Hilltoppers. Wesley Brooks scored 12 points for Oswego East.
"It was a choppy game, full of runs," Michael Mache said. "But in the end we got it done."