Grayslake Central-VH preview is a cliffhanger
A preview of the Class 3A North Chicago regional semifinal between Grayslake Central and Vernon Hills, which is scheduled to be played March 3, proved to be quite a thriller.
Sophomore Jordan Taylor hit a jump shot with .09 seconds left to give Grayslake Central a 56-54 nonconference win at Vernon Hills on Tuesday night.
The Cougars' DaVaris Daniels, who led all scorers with 22 points, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer that was waved off because time expired.
Grayslake Central improved to 18-6 with its 12th straight win, while Vernon Hills fell to 16-7 with its second loss in a row.
The Rams' C.J. Stempeck scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the first half. Josh Rappaport (12 points) and Andrew Sipes (10) also scored in double figures for Grayslake Central.
Besides Daniels' 22 points, Vernon Hills received nine apiece from Stephen Curry and Chris Morgan.
Grayslake North 54, Prairie Ridge 44: Teddy Ludwick and Matt Pucher scored 19 and 14 points, respectively, as the visiting Knights stretched their season-best winning streak to four games.
Michael Verwijst added 9 points in the Fox Valley Fox win.
Grayslake North improved to 12-11 and 7-5.
Wheeling 64, Round Lake 61: The visiting Wildcats pulled out the nonconference game, after the Panthers erased a 12-point deficit with five minutes left, pulling even on Tim Kelley's runner with 30 seconds to go.
Round Lake (2-21) received a career-high 16 points, including a dunk, from Nick Lange. Kelley finished with 12 points, while Juddon Carter and Jon Martinez each had 11.
Wheeling was led by Kevin Kortum with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Tyler Shapiro added 16.
Lake Forest 43, Lakes 40: Freshman Connor Bass hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Mitch Hopfinger in the closing seconds to lift the host Scouts in the North Suburban Conference crossover.
John Androus scored 17 points and Marcell KirkmanBey had 10 for Lakes (9-17), which overcame a 10-0 deficit to lead 22-18 at halftime.
Warren 53, Hoffman Estates 42: Craig Burton scored 12 points and Shahron Thomas added 11 in the nonconference game, helping the Blue Devils (11-10) to their eighth straight win.