Neuqua wins Healing crown

Facing a top Chicago-area team like DeLaSalle, the Neuqua Valley boys basketball team needed to play its best Friday night in the title game of the Hoops for Healing Tournament in Oswego.

It was not an issue for the Wildcats (4-0), who led from late in the second quarter on for good and hit the gas pedal in the final period with a 29-point outburst for a 73-51 victory.

Neuqua shot 47.8 percent from the field, but more importantly it hit 13 3-point baskets and shot 46.4 percent from that range for the contest.

"We knew we could shoot. But what was also important was how we weathered their runs and handled their momentum," said senior Connor Raridon, who was game-high scorer for Neuqua with 29 points. He was also 13 of 13 at the free-throw line.

Raridon said that keeping up with the Meteors (3-1) on the boards was also crucial, especially with the Wildcats' defense producing results.

"After they took a shot with somebody's hand in their face, we got the rebound," he said.

After George Wilborn's 2-pointer put DeLaSalle up 23-22. Neuqua went on a 10-0 run that included a 2 and a 3 from Demond George, who finished with 10. Joe Sieger also hit a 3 then. Brandon Hutton scored on a putback to put the Meteors to within 32-25 at halftime.

Neuqua built a 10-point lead almost midway through the third quarter, only to lead DeLaSalle and its two Division I-bound seniors 44-40 at the end of it. Things changed in the fourth.

It remained close until with under 3:30 left in the game when Zachary Lendino hit net for 2 to make it 55-48 Wildcats. Then Raridon quickly followed with a drive through the lane and was fouled. He made that three-point play, and his team was up 58-48 and was never seriously challenged again. He spent the rest of the contest going 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

"His strengths are he is fundamentally sound and he doesn't have a weakness," said Neuqua coach Todd Sutton.

As for the Wildcats overall, Sutton was pleased with what Neuqua does best and that's playing tough.

"We have to (be tough). Our center is 6-2. Our guys are not fast enough. But I think our toughness was good tonight. We went for the loose balls and we battled on the boards."