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Lisle pulls out win in 2nd overtime

One of the best possessions of Lisle's boys basketball season came in the last two and a half minutes of double-overtime Tuesday against Manteno.

Forcing a turnover, Lisle sought a good shot for 50 seconds until Ryan Gillen broke down the defense and found Derrick Redmond Jr. on a backdoor cut for a go-ahead layup.

It came in a game-ending 9-0 run and, as far as Lions coach Mark LaScala was concerned, highlighted Lisle's 53-46 Interstate Eight Conference victory over the visiting Panthers.

"When your stuff isn't working and you're down 2 in overtime, normally a lot of teams would panic and we didn't, and we ended up getting a good dribble penetration by Ryan and the assist.

"If we don't tie the game there then we have to foul, and the whole complexion is different," LaScala said.

"I thought that particular possession, showing some resolve and some patience, was really good and hopefully a learning moment for us."

Instead Manteno had to foul. Gillen followed Redmond's basket with a steal and two free throws. In the last 45 seconds Redmond added a foul shot and Gillen made two more with 32.1 seconds left, shutting out noisy fans.

"I just stay focused, go through my routine," said Gillen, who scored 10 points. "I've shot free throws a hundred times before, you've just got to stay focused and knock them down."

The first overtime period was scoreless though it appeared Lisle (9-14, 3-6) might win at the very end.

Manteno (7-18, 2-6) ran a minute off the clock for a final shot. Guard Jeff Jackson spun in the lane to put it up. In slid Lisle's Mark McGrath for the block. He tipped the ball ahead then dribbled madly downcourt. Under defensive pressure McGrath lost the ball on the way up and the horn sounded, tied 44-44.

"I thought it was over after that," Redmond said of the block by McGrath, who scored 17 points. "He got excited."

Lisle came out crisply for a 16-11 first-quarter lead, then missed all 14 second-quarter field goal tries to allow Manteno to tie 23-23 at halftime.

The Lions overcame a 33-30 deficit after three quarters to go up 42-37 with 2:13 left in the fourth on a pair of Nick Massura 3s and a Charlie Jansen basket from a Redmond assist.

Manteno's 6-foot-7 sophomore Logan Windeler was a handful, though, a good 6 inches taller than Jansen. Windeler finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 7 blocks, and he forced overtime with 17.9 seconds left. His final basket gave Manteno a 46-44 lead early in the second overtime.

"We just came off a loss," Gillen said, "and I think that being able to stick together and pull out a double-overtime win is huge for us."

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