Heartbreaking OT loss for Elk Grove

Resurgent Elk Grove had an opportunity to reach the .500 mark this late in a season for the first time in a while when it hosted Highland Park in a nonconference boys basketball game Wednesday night.

Unfortunately for the Grenadiers, they missed opportunities to extend a late 6-point lead en route to shooting less than 50 percent at the free-throw line.

The Giants took advantage with buzzer-beating 3-pointers in regulation and overtime. The latter by Jake Norcia just before he reached midcourt gave them a 57-54 victory.

Elk Grove (7-9) led 48-42 in the final three minutes of regulation but missed the front end of three 1-and-1s to go 3-for-7 in the fourth quarter and 6-for-13 overall.

“If we have any type of success at the line we walk away with a 10-point win,” said Elk Grove coach Anthony Furman. “We played well but we have to finish free throws down the stretch. We just didn’t do our job in the fourth quarter on the line.”

Kishan Patel (18 points) hit 2 free throws and Austin Amann (16 points) split a pair to put Elk Grove up 51-48 with 10 seconds left in regulation. Josh Sterns (13 points) forced overtime with a 25-footer.

Highland Park (9-6), which is tied with Glenbrook North for first place in the Central Suburban North, scored first in overtime but Amann answered with a tying 3.

Missed free throws by Highland Park gave Elk Grove a chance to win in overtime but a short jumper with four seconds left missed. Norcia grabbed the rebound and capped a 27-point night in stunning fashion.

“We have to do the things to avoid those things from happening,” Furman said. “We’re playing good and they’re a good team.”

Zach Solorio added 8 points and hit two 3s for Elk Grove. Amann hit three 3s and Patel also hit two 3s.