Down 10 late, Batavia rallies to win in OT

Batavia has won more than its share of thrillers through the years at the Elgin Holiday Tournament, and the Bulldogs added another to that memorable list with their 75-68 overtime victory over Rockford Guilford Wednesday.

The 2005 and 2007 Elgin tournament champions now have a chance to claim their second straight consolation title when Batavia plays Glenbrook South at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Sophomore Zach Strittmatter drained a 3-pointer to force overtime, hitting it from almost the exact same spot on the court as the two 3's David Bryant swished in the final minute to stun Wheaton North back in the 2007 championship game.

Strittmatter was just one of the Batavia players who keyed a rally from 10 points down in the fourth quarter.

"I thought our team did a really good job bouncing back," said senior guard Jesse Coffey, who matched his career-high with 25 points. "We've had a few games where we've had that lead and given it up so it was good for us to show some toughness and come back."

Coffey had 5 of Batavia's nine 3-pointers. Strittmatter made three of them.

Just as important as the shooting was the way Batavia (7-5) handled the basketball. After 12 turnovers in the first half, the Bulldogs turned it over just once in the fourth quarter and overtime while forcing Guilford (7-7) into eight over the same stretch.

"I was very proud of our kids," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "We eliminated a lot of those (mistakes) and gave ourselves chances. Jesse kept us in early and we just kept plugging."

Coffey capped his 12-point first half with a 3-pointer that just beat the halftime buzzer, keeping the Bulldogs within 36-30 at halftime.

Guilford stayed in control throughout the third quarter and matched its biggest lead of the game at 53-43 on Brandon Blankenship's 3-pointer with seven minutes left.

Coffey started Batavia's comeback with a 3-pointer and Mike Rueffer followed with another making it 53-49. The Bulldogs didn't catch Guilford until 38 seconds remained when Rueffer swung the ball to Strittmatter who connected from just to the left of the top of the key tying the game at 63.

Cole Gardner drew a charge to give Batavia the ball back and a chance to win in regulation, and the Bulldogs worked the ball inside to Gardner who was fouled with 4.8 seconds left. The junior missed both free throws, which sent the game to overtime after Guilford's off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark.

Gardner immediately took out any frustration about those misses when he scored Batavia's first four points of overtime, both on second-effort baskets when he snared a rebound of his own miss and scored.

"I told Cole to be ready to be back up there again and to his credit he stepped up there without much hesitation," Roberts said.

Clinging to a 70-68 lead, Batavia caught a break when Keffer Simpson missed 2 free throws with 22.4 seconds left. Gardner split free throws for a 3-point lead, and Strittmatter hustled for the rebound on the missed second attempt. Guilford had to foul Coffey, who made both and finished 6 of 6 in the game.

"These last two years I have really gained confidence in my free-throw shooting and know that I'm the guy we want at the line," Coffey said.

Blankenship came off the bench to lead the Vikings with 21 points. Guilford hit just 5 of its 14 free throws.

"They (Batavia) brought some pressure, I think they played well defensively in the second half," Guilford coach Bobby Heisler said. "I think our youth showed through there late in the game."

Guildford has nine juniors and a sophomore on its roster and like Batavia was playing its first overtime game.

"I think late in that fourth quarter and especially in overtime I think there were some nerves there," Heisler said. "But to take nothing away from Batavia, we have watched them play throughout this tournament and we thought they were a very good team to begin with."

Strittmatter (15 points, 9 rebounds), Elliott Vaughn (14 points, 8 rebounds) and Gardner (14 points, 7 rebounds) all joined Coffey in double figures. Gardner scored all 14 of his points in the second half and overtime after playing just the first 2:40 of the first half before getting two fouls.

Repeating last year's consolation title won't be easy against Glenbrook South, a 57-22 winner Wednesday over Hoffman Estates.

"Glenbrook South will bring a different type of challenge," Roberts said. "They are a little longer, good quickness. We'll have our hands full but we're glad to have an opportunity."