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Greer's clutch effort helps Orr deny North Chicago

Shot in the leg less than two weeks ago, Chicago Orr basketball player Tyquone Greer was expected to be done for the season.

The senior was in uniform for Tuesday night's Class 3A Hoffman Estates supersectional, and when the game was on the line, Greer was on the court.

He made the most of his opportunity.

Greer sank a 3-pointer with three seconds left on the clock - his only basket of the night - lifting Orr to a 71-68 win over North Chicago.

Orr (25-4) will meet Morgan Park at 2:15 p.m. Friday in a state semifinal at the Civic Center in Peoria.

"This meant everything. All I wanted was the team to win," Greer said. "I got shot in my leg and wasn't able to play the last few games. This could have of been our last game. I wanted to make my presence felt. For me to take that shot, God planned it for me.

"I guess it was destined for me to take the shot," he added. "I was open. I knew that I could make it. I was confident."

North Chicago (26-5) fought back three times in the final quarter. The Warhawks were down by eight at one point.

Warhawks guard Jayquan McCloud, who scored 22 points, hit his fifth 3-pointer to tie the score at 68-68 with 28 seconds left. His clutch shot helped make amends for a turnover he committed seconds earlier.

"We had to be patient and let the momentum switch," McCloud said. "We had to stay under control. I made a mistake trying to split the defense and wanted to get it back and show the team that I was here for them down the stretch."

North Chicago's Kurt Hall also scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while JaVairius Amos-Mays added 16 points. Orr was led by Marion Jones, whose 33 points included several dunks. He also had 10 rebounds. Devon King chipped in 18 points.

Our kids played hard and (Greer's) shot went in," North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman said. "There's nothing that we can do. Orr's a good team and we're a good team. It happened that (Orr) hit the last shot. "I'm proud of the guys. We could have quit. These seniors don't know anything about quitting."

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