St. Charles N. stymies rival
It might not seem like St. Charles North reserve Nick Karayannis has much in common with St. Charles East’s Purdue-bound Kendall Stephens.
Turns out it was the work Karayannis did impersonating the Saints star — and similar efforts by the North Stars’ scout team of Zach Kirby, Justin Stanko, Chris Preocanin and Matt Pretet — that earned kudos following St. Charles North’s 52-46 victory Saturday night at a nearly filled North gym.
If it seemed St. Charles North (7-11, 3-2) knew just what St. Charles East (8-5, 3-2) was going to run on nearly every possession, coach Tom Poulin said that’s a credit to the scout players who worked so hard preparing his starters.
“They did a great job,” Poulin said. “I met with them in the film room and we went over everything St. Charles East did half court and out of bounds. Our scout team did a good job pushing our rotation guys.”
No time did the North Stars frustrate the Saints more than a second quarter when St. Charles East failed to make a shot from the field. That drought helped the North Stars open a 23-15 halftime lead.
North Stars junior Quinten Payne started the game guarding Stephens and along with Kyle Swanson kept Stephens scoreless in the first half.
Like Poulin, Payne was quick to credit his teammates.
“We had five guys who learned East’s stuff and took it to heart,” Payne said. “They had to do their stuff and shoot 3s. We did a great job as a team and I give all the credit to our bench guys who took that to heart and really implemented that.”
After missing all 5 of his shots in the first half, Stephens got going with 10 third-quarter points. He started the quarter with a pair of 3s and capped it with an emphatic slam that brought the Saints within 32-31.
The North Stars closed the third quarter with the final 3 points, all on free throws, to lead 35-31 going to the fourth quarter.
That was fitting for the North Stars who lived at the line all night making 24-of-35 to the Saints’ 6-of-14. Payne led the way going 9-for-9 while Swanson was 6-for-6 and Kyle Nelson 7-of-12.
“We were strong with the ball,” Poulin said. “Against some of these teams if you are weak with the ball it is a turnover and if you are strong with the ball it’s a foul. East is aggressive so it’s either going to be a steal or a foul so it’s up to us. If we are strong with the ball we will get to the line.”
Shooting such a good percentage the line was a welcome sight for the North Stars who would have a couple more wins if wasn’t for missed free throws.
“Before practice, after practice, coach Poulin has had us taking free throws,” Payne said. “In a game like this that is close we have to knock down free throws and we did tonight.”
Johnny Hondlik’s back-to-back 3s brought the Saints within 38-37 early in the fourth quarter. Swanson answered with a pair of free throws, and the Saints — 16-of-48 from the field in the game — missed a couple 3s that could have tied the game.
The Saints never had a chance to tie again over the final three minutes. Luke Ludke’s 3 with 13.8 seconds left brought them within 49-46. Jason Weinzirl’s free throw restored a 2-possession lead, and a few seconds later the North Star student section stormed the court to celebrate with the players.
“Great team win,” said Payne, who led all scorers with 19 points and like Stephens had a memorable jam. “We played defense, got some stops. Kendall is not an easy kid to shut down. He’s so long and athletic.”
Stephens led the Saints with 14 points and 13 rebounds but shot 6-of-17 from the field and didn’t get to the free-throw line. Dom Adduci added 13 points and Hondlik 10. St. Charles East led just twice all night, the final time 13-11 late in the first quarter.
“Bottom line is you have to make shots and we didn’t,” Saints coach Patrick Woods said. “I only took one timeout (in the second quarter) because I thought we were getting good looks. That was the worst free-throw shooting game we’ve had. We just didn’t put the ball in the basket.”
Nelson added 15 points and 8 rebounds.
“Quinten did a great job off the ball denying,” Poulin said. “You are never going to keep Kendall down (all game). We are lucky it was just for one half. They are a jump shooting team. I thought we contested jump shots.”
The teams play for a third time Feb. 8 at St. Charles East.
“Our ball movement wasn’t good,” Woods said. “Our basketball IQ is very low right now. That’s something we have to strive to improve. We’re just not too smart. We settled for quick shots. At some point these guys have to grow up and get it.”