Schaumburg teams up for OT win against Morton
Schaumburg coach Matt Walsh always emphasizes that his Saxons win and lose as a team.
Wednesday night at the Glenbard North Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal, nothing could have more true.
The Saxons weathered the storm, falling behind 43-32 with 7:22 to go in regulation to force overtime and eventually beat Morton 63-59.
Schaumburg led 51-49 after Kyle Bolger hit the first of 2 free throws with: 19 left.
The Mustangs (16-9) grabbed the rebound and Walter Perez (13 points, 9 rebounds) scored from underneath with 2.1 seconds left to tie the game at 51-51 and force the extra period.
Bolger hit 2 free throws with 2:51 left for a 53-51 lead, then assisted to Bobby Green (11 points, 4 rebounds) for a 55-51 lead moments later.
Morton closed to 60-59 with: 18 left before Green hit a free throw and Bolger made 2 more with 2.6 left to seal the win.
“Give a lot of credit to Morton,” Walsh said. “They are a great team and they played so hard. But so did we. When we were down in the fourth quarter our seniors played so passionate and played hard.”
“At halftime coach told us to play with emotion and heart,” Lundquist said. “We didn’t have Bobby the first time we played them. With his big body he was able to work inside. Down the stretch we knew we had to step up the defense or it would be the end of the season. I think our ball pressure and cutting off the passing lanes were key.”
Bolger scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half after sitting most of the first half with foul trouble.
Lundquist keyed a fourth-quarter run with a pair of 3-point baskets.
“Coach and my teammates said to keep my head up,” Bolger said. “To start the second half it was a new game and I had to stay positive.
“In the fourth quarter we made some good defensive stands. We didn’t want this to be our last game. We all helped to create the offense. We penetrated with the ball and that gave us open shots.”
Trailing 45-36 with 5:25 left Lundquist (11 points. 7 rebounds) nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing.
Coles Reyes (14 points) followed with a basket on an assist from Green.
Bolger scored on back-to-back spinning drives in the lane for layups to tie the game as 45 with 2:16 left.
Lundquist put Schaumburg (19-9) ahead 50-49 with another left wing 3-pointer after Perez gave the Mustangs the lead at 49-47.
“What can you say?” said Walsh. “Kyle and Jimmy have played in these types of games for three years now. They have the experience in these situations. They are used to it.”
The Saxons’ bench played key roles with Green, Brendan Parker, Josh Rahn, and Carlos Sarasti all contributing in different ways.
“That’s what makes us a team,” said Walsh. “Tonight we found a way to win. From here on out teams get better. When we play Oak Park Friday night it will be another quality team to play against.”
The Saxons’ win avenges a January loss to the Mustangs.