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Stingy Naperville Central handles Deerfield

If basketball had an ERA statistic, Naperville Central might be leading the league.

The Redhawks held yet another opponent in the 30s and pitched a shutout quarter along the way en route to 43-31 quarterfinal win over Deerfield on Tuesday night at the Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic.

But the Redhawks battled themselves almost as much as the opposing Warriors.

A 3-point first-quarter in which they started out 1-of-5 with 3 turnovers left Naperville Central in a 12-3 hole.

"It was just a slow start," said senior guard Nate Dahl, who paced the Redhawks (10-4) with 17 points.

"We were flat. We were very flat," said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer.

And then they reversed course and flattened the Warriors (6-5), allowing no second-quarter points and taking a 14-12 lead into intermission.

By the time Matthew Meier (16 points) scored twice to open the third quarter, on a drive and then on a feed from Harrison Hallstrom, the Redhawks had scored 15 straight. And the onslaught continued as Brandon Baskin scored on a feed from Dahl, and Meier knocked down a 3 for a 25-16 lead.

Despite some sharpshooting from the perimeter by Deerfield's Jordan Baum (14 points), the Redhawks fought through the Warriors' attacking defense for Meier's press-breaking basket and then his jumper for what would become an insurmountable 29-22 lead after three quarters the way they were playing defense.

After the first quarter, "We just came out and played aggressive," said Kramer. "We took care of the basketball."

That is primarily Meier and Dahl, the guards who rarely rest and relish their time on the court.

"I'm fine with it," said Dahl of rarely being subbed. "We condition in practice. You get your wind."

And your hoops and your stops. Deerfield shot just 7-of-29 after the first quarter, 4-of-17 on 3-pointers for a team known for its sharpshooting. Meanwhile, Naperville Central was getting a boost off the bench from Baskin up front and from guard Mark Nowak.

The Redhawks defense was so smothering that Deerfield gunners Joey Lane and Sam Kuznetsky were 3-of-18 combined, 1-of-7 on 3-pointers. And Naperville outrebounded Deerfield, 25-12.

The Redhawks will meet a rugged Notre Dame squad in Friday's second semifinal at 8:45 p.m.

"We've just got to put four quarters together," said Kramer.

"We've got to start faster," said Dahl.

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