Grayslake North's Martineau makes it count vs. Central

Well aware that it was his last shot to play against Grayslake Central, ever, Grayslake North senior Austin Martineau made sure he made a few shots.

"Ever since the Lake Zurich (MLK) tournament (in January), I've found my shot a little bit," he said.

Saturday night at a packed Grayslake Central field house, no one needed to be convinced.

Martineau scored a career-high 21 points, sinking three 3-pointers, as Grayslake North completed a season sweep of the Rams by winning 73-66 in Northern Lake County Conference action.

Led by Martineau, Grayslake North (12-10, 6-3) had four starters score in double figures. Ryan Connolly added 18 points and 5 rebounds, Tony Hines scored 11 points, and Jamon Thomas tallied 10. Nick Lovitsch contributed 7 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals.

"We talked before the game about we're (Class) 4A and (Grayslake Central) is (Class) 3A," said Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh, whose Knights beat the Rams 66-62 on Dec. 1. "We got four seniors on the team (Martineau, Lovitsch, Zach Carter and Matt Rennolds), and we've had success against (Central) on our home court. I didn't tell them how few times we've won on this court, but this is our third win ever on this court."

Grayslake Central senior guard Antonio Crews also scored a high career, finishing with 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting (two 3-pointers). He was 5 of 8 from the stripe. Coby Moe had 8 points for the Rams (8-12, 3-4). Christopher Thomas, playing just his second game of the season after tearing his ACL last spring, knocked down two 3-pointers.

"(This rivalry game) is so much fun because you know the guys on the other team," Crews said. "It's such a special game. I used to go to these games when I was young. As a town, that's how Grayslake is. Everything is so tight-knit."

Martineau, the three-year varsity quarterback, is playing his second season of varsity basketball. Grunloh only recently put him in the starting lineup.

"I've played against Central since fourth grade, when I started playing travel," Martineau said after shootiung 9 of 13 from the floor. "It's always meant something to me. I don't think I've ever swept them in a (high school) season. I haven't swept them since sixth grade. Getting that done tonight felt good."

With Grayslake North clinging to a 34-33 lead at halftime thanks to Connolly's three-point play with 1.9 seconds left before the break, Martineau took over in the third quarter. He scored 10 points, going 4 of 5 from the floor with two 3-pointers, as the Knights extended their lead to 58-46 entering the fourth.

"I thought he turned the tide of the game," said Grunloh, whose Knights also got a pair of 3s from Hines in the third. "He does a lot of stuff that flies under the radar. He is a team player, he's a leader, and we know we can shoot."

Martineau's final basket came when he rebounded his own missed 3-pointer and sank a short shot, extending the Knights' lead to 64-55 with 4:41 left in the fourth.

"Hats off to the kid," Grayslake Central coach Kosta Kougias said. "He had that big offensive rebound that was just a dagger."

Few saw Martineau's performance coming.

"Austin played really well," Crews said. "I don't think we expected that from him, and he made us pay for it. Ryan (Connolly) is such a freakish athlete, is so good and made us work, and they got other guys too who are great ballplayers."