St. Charles North 44, South Elgin 36

St. Charles North boys basketball coach Tom Poulin talked Tuesday night about how his team has played so many nip-and-tuck games all season.

Those experiences paid dividends Tuesday in the North Stars' 44-36 Class 4A Larkin regional semifinal victory over South Elgin in Elgin.

After the Storm's Adam Hodge hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 31-31 with 2:54 remaining, the North Stars stayed poised and went on an 8-0 run to finally pull away from the fourth-seeded Storm.

"We've talked about the fact we've been in so many close games. I don't know the win-loss record, but most of the time we come out on top," Poulin said. "We feel comfortable going down the stretch in close games."

The top-seeded North Stars (17-11) tied a school record for victories with the win. They will play either St. Charles East or Elgin for the regional championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday. No. 2 East and No. 3 Elgin play at 7:30 p.m. today.

North scored the first 6 points Tuesday, but scored only two during the final 5 minutes of the first quarter. Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively as North led 8-4 after 8 minutes.

The North Stars went 2-for-12 from the field. The Storm (13-15) was 2-for-7 with 7 turnovers.

The North Stars, who beat South Elgin by 11 points less than two weeks ago, led 19-17 at halftime as Nick Neari and Jonathan DeMoss each had 7 points.

"When you know you've been there before (in close games) it really helps down the stretch," said Neari, a junior. "We needed to stay poised and be cool."

South Elgin scored the final 5 points of the third quarter and trailed 27-26 heading to the fourth. The Storm grabbed its first lead of the game, 28-27, on a Dan Lopez basket with 7:10 remaining.

Zach Hirsch hit a 3-pointer with 5:30 left as North regained the lead, 30-28. After a Mike Lefelstein free throw gave the North Stars a 3-point lead, Hodge hit a 3-pointer that hit the rim, bounced straight up in the air and through the net to tie the game at 31-31 with 2:54 left.

"At that point we're thinking it's our game," Hodge said. "They came down and get a couple of key offensive plays."

Neari hit a reverse layup, Hirsch hit another 3-pointer and Neari converted an old-fashioned 3-point play over the minute and a half to give North a 39-31 lead and control.

"The thing that hurt us was the ball screen when (Hirsch) came off the ball screen (and hit two 3-pointers)," Storm coach Chaz Taft said. "He made two big shots. I think he had only six points. Six of the biggest points of the game."

The North Stars 5 of 8 free throws in the final minute to keep South Elgin at bay.

DeMoss led North with a game-high 15 points. Neari finished with 13.

Hodge, one of seven seniors on South Elgin first team with seniors, led the Storm with 10 points. Lopez, Jeff Lewis and Jordan Dobler each finished with 6. Lopez added 14 rebounds.

"It's been amazing," Hodge said. "I've played with the best teammates you can have."