Downers South holds off Glenbard North
Tuesday night's Class 4A West Aurora regional boys basketball semifinal between Downers Grove South and Glenbard North is another in a long line of examples of why seedings sometimes are simply a tool to set up a sectional and not the gospel truth as to the talent of teams.
The Mustangs (24-3), seeded second in the East Aurora sectional, will play another day thanks to a 54-51 victory over the 18th-seeded Panthers (11-16). However, Downers South needed every ounce of effort to drive Glenbard North back and more than once saw its season flash before its eyes.
"Glenbard North is a good team, give them credit. They play in a good league (DuPage Valley Conference)," Downers South coach Jay Baum said. "We stayed the course and didn't panic and we made our free throws."
The Mustangs, who will play tonight's winner between seventh-seeded West Aurora and 10th-seeded Wheaton Warrenville South on Friday for the regional title, finished 15 of 21 from the free-throw line.
That included 10 of 12 in the critical fourth quarter when Downers South exploded for 26 points, just two fewer than its scoring output during the first three quarters.
Glenbard North had a 7-point lead twice during the first 1:10 of the final period. Downers South cut it to 1 at 39-38 with 4:45 to play thanks to Danielius Jurgutis' steal and layup.
After that the lead changed seven times before it could be said that the Mustangs had control of the game.
The Panthers' best final hope of grabbing control of the game came when Josh Fleming completed a three-point play with 43.6 seconds left to put his team ahead for what would be the final time at 48-47.
About 16 seconds later two missed free throws might have changed Glenbard North's fortunes. At the 13.9 mark Jamall Millison kept his shot straight into the net, despite being fouled right when he released the ball, and then made the subsequent free throw to put Downers South up 50-48 for what would be for good.
Jurgutis and Kevin Honn each made two more free throws and, as a symbol of the Panthers' tough play all night, Anthony Keener hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game at the buzzer to top off the final score.
"I think we've played pretty well the past couple of weeks and it showed tonight," Glenbard North coach Joe Larson said. "I can't be more proud of our effort."
"I'm proud of our guys for not panicking and making the play when needed," Baum said. "Other teams have superstars. We have five, six good players. It's hard for other teams to key on just one person."