Wheaton North scores in waves
Wheaton North's boys basketball team can score in so many ways.
The Falcons showed every single one of them to St. Francis.
The offense took center stage in an overall brilliant night for Wheaton North, which rolled to Friday's 70-43 nonconference road win over the Spartans.
"That's one of our strengths this season," said Falcons senior point guard Nick Jordan. "Everyone can attack. Everyone's a threat on offense, so everyone was knocking down shots tonight. Everyone's contributing."
The lead changed hands four times in the opening six minutes, but the Falcons (9-3) took the lead for good at 18-13 at the end of the first quarter on a bucket by Luke Anthony and a 3-pointer by Jordan. It was the fourth 3-pointer of the quarter and one of nine for the game by Wheaton North.
But perimeter shooting wasn't the only scoring source. The Falcons were aggressive to the basket, active in transition, pounded the offensive boards for putbacks and worked inside-out with 6-foot-7 Jake Heggeland.
By halftime the lead grew to double digits, and by midway through the third quarter it burst to 20 points. While Wheaton North saw every starter score by the end of the third quarter, St. Francis (6-8) managed a total of only three scorers until the benches emptied in the game's final four minutes.
"They shot extremely well," said St. Francis coach Bob Ward. "When you face a team that's that hot, then you've got to have other stuff going for you. You've got to win the hustle game and you've got to get loose balls. You've got to be really good in rebounding, and we were not good in any of those areas. It's hard to defend when you're giving them second and third chances in a possession."
Anthony and Nick Traversa led a balanced effort for Wheaton North with 16 points apiece. Jordan added 14 points.
Jason Sullivan paced St. Francis with 14 points while Mike Shaw scored 12 points and Gabriel Johnson had 11. The Spartans trio combined for all nine of the team's 3-pointers, with Sullivan and Shaw hitting four apiece.
"I was really proud of our guys for coming out with great intensity," said Falcons coach Dave Brackmann. "It was good to see we sustained it for four quarters, which we weren't doing necessarily early on in the season as much as we'd like. But we definitely did tonight."
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