Grayslake Central works OT for win over Grayslake North

It took nearly 40 minutes, but the dream worked. Because of teamwork.

Grayslake Central junior forward Lindsay Brust flashed across the lane with about four seconds left in double overtime Friday night at Grayslake North. She snapped up a pass from the wing, turned and flipped in a running layup to break up the umpteenth tie of the game.

She was fouled and her made free throw gave the visiting Rams a 74-71 double overtime victory over Grayslake North.

"It was really nerve-wracking," said Brust, who, despite nursing an injured wrist, finished with 18 points, 14 of which came from the fourth quarter on. "I don't even know how I got open. My teammates, I think. I just called for them to look at me and … teamwork makes the dream work.

"I kept telling everyone that."

Grayslake Central (3-4, 1-0 FVC Fox) got its first win over Grayslake North (4-3, 0-2 FVC Fox) in at least the last two years.

Victory seemed like a certainty for the Rams in the third and fourth quarters. Grayslake Central ended the third quarter up 43-33 and had a 56-50 lead with 33 seconds left in regulation.

But Brandi Thibeaux (team-high 17 points) hit a driving layup and Sidney Lovitsch (16 points) drained a 3-pointer over the next 20 seconds for Grayslake North to cut the Grayslake Central led to 56-55.

Free throws made on both sides, including 2 by Grayslake North reserve Sydney Paez with 1.3 seconds left, knotted the score at 57 at the end of the fourth.

"We were down 10 at one point and the effort was incredible for us to have a chance at the end," Grayslake North coach Rob Nicoletti said. "That's all that we could ask for."

Both teams each hit 5 free throws in the first overtime session, which ended in a 64-64 tie. Meanwhile, Grayslake North was losing one starter after another to fouls. Lovitsch, Thibeaux, Abbey Stinner and Kelley O'Brien all fouled out.

In the second overtime, Brust came up big for Grayslake Central, hitting 2 field goals and a free throw. Quin Garbett, who finished with a game-high 23 points, nailed 4-of-4 free throws.

"We worked as a team, kept our heads up and didn't get down when they would score," Garbett said. "I'm really proud of my whole team.

"It was just really crazy. We were just really focused in our huddles and when Lindsay (Brust) hit that shot it was amazing. I'm so proud of her. She's been working her butt off all season. I'm proud of her for sticking with it."

Ania Barnes added 12 points for Grayslake Central while Paez (13 points) and Stinner (11 points) also scored in double-figures for Grayslake North.

"It's something about your crosstown rival," Grayslake Central coach Steve Ikenn said. "These kids grew up together. They're friends. They're rivals, there's always a lot of emotion. A lot of (fans) came to the game, and were very vocal. A double-overtime game is going to bring emotion anyway and then you throw all that other rivalry stuff on it, it's great.

"We didn't let up. We refused to give up. We never got down on ourselves and we stuck together. We were determined."