Wauconda hangs on

There were a lot of opportunities for both host Carmel and Wauconda to win their nonconference boys basketball game Wednesday night in Mundelein.

The Corsairs made a late comeback from a 9-point deficit, but the visiting Bulldogs held on down the stretch for a 51-47 victory despite being without the services of their top scorer for the better part of the fourth quarter.

Wauconda (9-11) held a 23-17 lead late in the second quarter, but the fourth of six 3-pointers by Carmel's David Venegoni one second before the intermission made the score 23-23 at halftime.

Carmel (3-16) was unable to hold off the Bulldogs in the third quarter as Wauconda built a 39-32 advantage when Scott Wahl tipped in Bryce Lahrman's missed shot with five seconds remaining in the period.

But with 7:24 to play, Wauconda 6-4 forward Eric Grozavescu (team-high 16 points) picked up his fourth foul as the Bulldogs held their biggest lead at 41-32. Shortly after returning from the bench, Grozavescu fouled out with 3:05 to play.

The Corsairs gradually chipped away at the lead as Venegoni's sixth 3-pointer cut the gap to 45-41 with 2:59 left. A rebound basket by Carmel center Jack Baucus pulled Carmel within 45-43, but the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed.

"I knew I had 4 fouls, but I made a dumb mistake and I'm glad my teammates fought through and got the win," Grozavescu said. "Right when I fouled out they got a little worried, but mentally they fought through it and won the game."

A bank shot by Lahrman made the score 47-43 with 2:19 to go before a rebound basket by Venegoni (game-high 26 points) made the score 47-45 with 55.4 seconds left.

Wauconda's Luis Enriquez hit 2 huge free throws with 29.4 seconds left to boost the lead to 49-45 before Carmel's Jordan Sivertsen answered with a rebound basket with 16.4 seconds to go.

Wauconda's Connor Dimick sealed the victory with 2 free throws with 10.6 seconds to play.

"We kind of dug ourselves a hole in the third quarter and Wauconda did a good job of playing to their strengths and getting the ball inside," said Carmel coach Jon Baffico. "Besides David (Venegoni) we struggled against their zone defense tonight, but I think that is a tribute to how they played their defense."

Dimick hit double figures with 12 points while Lahrman added 9 points. Baucus had 8 points with teammate Jonathan Huisel chipping in 6 points.

"We came out in the third quarter and played the way we should have played in the first half," said Wauconda coach Rich Wolf. "It was nice to get back into the win column and hopefully this gives us some momentum going into the Grant game Friday."

Girls basketball

Grant 70, Lakes 26: Jamie Swanson sank three 3-pointers and scored 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, as the visiting Bulldogs stayed perfect in the North Suburban Prairie Division.

Tori Ziegler added 14 points for Grant (19-2, 9-0). Autumn Gaylor and Rachel Behm added 12 apiece, with Behm establishing a season high. The Bulldogs led 23-2 after one quarter, 45-6 at halftime and 60-12 after three.

Lakes (0-22, 0-8) was led by Keshia Cunningham with 10 points.