Hines, Grayslake North bounce back
Nothing but ... air.
Grayslake North's boys basketball team, which has shown in recent years it can splash shots from beyond the arc with regularity, headed into Friday night's game against Wauconda at Johnsburg, looking to redeem itself. The Knights were coming off a blowout loss to Johnsburg three nights earlier.
"I'm joking, but I know it's a fact: We also broke a program record with 7 airball 3-pointers in that game," Grayslake North coach Grunloh said. "It was brutal."
The response was beautiful.
Ryan Connolly collected 26 points and 17 rebounds, Tony Hines II had his best game as a varsity basketball player with 24 points and 8 boards, and Grayslake North pulled away in the second half to beat Wauconda 79-58.
"Tremendous bounce-back from our kids," Grunloh said after his Knights improved to 2-1 in the Thanksgiving tourney co-hosted by Johnsburg and Richmond-Burton. Grayslake North plays Crystal Lake South at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Johnsburg for the championship.
"We had a film session (after the Johnsburg game) that was about as brutally honest as a team film session that we've ever had in the history of our program."
Hines was one of the Knights who bounced back. The first-year varsity player, a playmaking wide receiver who earned all-conference honors in the fall, made just 1 shot against Johnsburg.
"I felt like I went 1 for 20 or something," said Hines, who responded by sinking 10 of 17 shots, including two 3-pointers, against Wauconda. "I was so disappointed in myself for having a game like that. I just knew I had to pick it up tonight, and I had to come back for my team because I feel like we need another guy on the court to contribute."
Wauconda (1-2) had a 10-point lead in the first half, but Hines came off the bench to spark Grayslake North. He netted 11 points in the quarter to help the Knights pull even.
"I listen to a lot of music," Hines said of what he did to bounce back mentally. "I tune out and lock in. I had to stay focused coming into this game."
Wauconda sophomore guard Benji Chung hit a 19-footer with a defender in his face at the halftime buzzer to give the Bulldogs a 34-32 lead, but they couldn't sustain any momentum. Wauconda was already playing without starting sophomore guard Nick Bulgarelli (stomach flu).
The Knights outscored the Bulldogs 27-9 in the third quarter, as Jason Donohue heated up. He scored 12 of his 16 points in the quarter, making all 4 of his shots, including a pair of 3-pointers.
"We just ran out of juice," Wauconda coach Scott Luetschwager said. "Grayslake North ramped up their ball pressure and off-the-ball pressure, and it affected some guys. We have some kids who are just learning to be varsity players."
Grunloh praised Dononhue and fellow junior guard Jamon Thomas (3 steals) for their defensive intensity.
"I thought Jamon and Jason did a great job of pressuring the ball," Grunloh said.
Connolly, who missed all 5 of his shots in the opening quarter, went 9 of 15 from the field after that, scoring mainly inside.
Nick Rinchiuso led Wauconda with 18 points (two 3-pointers) coming off the bench. Chung (4 assists) and Connor Brannick (4 steals) each had 11. Donovan Carter, who scored 36 points in the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Johnsburg and 15 against Huntley, had just 6 points, all in the first half, on 3-of-13 shooting.
"One of those nights," Luetschwager said. "He had looks. The ball just didn't fall."
Wauconda plays Richmond-Burton at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in its tournament finale.