Peak performance for Wheeling in victory over Maine East

Wheeling boys basketball coach Michael O'Keeffe has his Wildcats peaking at the right time.

Wheeling, which had struggled through the first 3 months of the season, won its second game in a row Tuesday, beating Maine East 51-46 in a nonconference matchup.

"It was nice to see to our kids play composed and play under control," O'Keeffe said. "And make winning plays at the end of the game. We have been in many games like that this year and we have made some silly decisions, and it has cost us."

Wheeling (7-15), which beat Buffalo Grove in overtime last Friday, watched as a 10-point lead was cut to just 3 at 49-46 with 57.8 seconds to play. But after the Wildcats missed a pair of one-and-one free throws, Nick Janulis, who had just rebounded a missed 3-pointer, calmly canned 2 free throws with 6 seconds left to ice the victory.

"I loved it," said Janulis, who led the Wildcats with 14 points. "End-of-the-game free throws are where you make big plays. I was just happy that I got the rebound at the other end so I could shoot them."

Thanks to their strong opening in the third quarter, Wheeling was able twice to open up a 10-point lead. The Wildcats, who led 31-28, went on a 9-2 run as Janulis began the run with a 3 and ended it with a pair of free throws to make it 42-32 with 1:31 left in the third quarter.

Maine East then went on 10-3 run behind the play of Jordan Irving, who had 8 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Demons pulled to 45-42 with 4:12 to play.

But this Wheeling team showed its experience by not panicking.

"In previous games we would have checked out," said Wheeling's Dylan Draka, who finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds. "If they were coming back we would have let them back in the game. And we didn't do that."

Janulis hit a basket and Draka banged down 2 free throws to make it 49-43 with 1:36 to play. And that gave the Wildcats some breathing room.

"I was a little nervous, but the kids were composed," O'Keeffe said. "But we played great team defense and that was the key."

Wheeling got a rare 4-point play from Ryan Caulfield to lead 22-17 midway through the second quarter. But Maine East (13-13) got 6 consecutive points from Milan Grover (17 points) and was able to lead 25-24 at the half.

"They have two of the best guards in the area in (Milan) Grover and (Jordan) Irving," O'Keeffe said. "We did a good job on Irving in the first half, and Grover scored. And it was flip-flopped in the second half, with Irving doing most of their scoring."

Wheeling had six different players knock down 3-pointers, with Janulis and TJ Best each nailing a pair. Caulfield finished with 8 points, Best had 7 points and Jalen Dennis 5 points.

Janulis likes the way his team is playing down the stretch.

"We have been playing real well," Janulis said. "It is really good to see us turning it around at this time of the season just before the playoffs."