Sweet finish for Grayslake North

The cake was laid out for the Grayslake North seniors.

It was stationed in a nearby room, awaiting the party for the six Knights' seniors. All North had to do was to dispense of 2-game winner Grant on Tuesday night in Grayslake.

Evidently, the Grant team didn't get the same memo. Especially Bulldogs senior Jacob Hanlin. He went to halftime with 17 points in his back pocket.

On two more free throws from Hanlin, it looked like the North party might turn sour. The Grant lead was 16 points at 49-33 in the third quarter.

"We let up a bunch of easy shots,'' said North senior Lucas Buckels. "We were able to score the whole game. But we started a concerted effort to stop them."

Buckels and teammate Aidan Einloth both scored 18 points as Grayslake North (13-8) tied this nonconference game early in the fourth quarter and went on to post a 63-57 win.

Despite the Bulldogs' 2-24 mark, North coach Todd Grunloh noted he warned his Knights about the young and improving Bulldogs.

"We watched them against Vernon Hills,'' Grunloh said. "And they made everything. I told the guys if you take this 2-game winner lightly, we will be in trouble. I don't think we've given up more than 29 points (in a half), except against Zion."

Grant had 39 points at the break in this game.

The Knights made good on 8 straight free throws late in the first quarter, including 4 from Einloth, or the Grant lead could have been even larger. On back to back scores from Grant's Jason Kaye, the Grant lead was 15-6.

"We had a great first half,'' said Grant coach Wayne Bosworth. "Give us credit. We've got some young players but we gave away too many possessions. Their guys went straight to the rim. We had some terrible possessions."

Grant was playing effectively in the third quarter. James Mobley, Grant's athletic junior, scored on back-to-back plays to seemingly break the game open. He finished with 13 points.

And then, as Grant seemed prepared to truly put it away, all the lights went out for the Bulldogs. The shots stopped falling. In the meantime, Buckels had 6 points in the third quarter. He'd celebrated senior day with his soccer team in the fall, but not in front of a crowd this big at North.

"I usually don't score this much,'' Buckels said. "Usually, I get the rebounds. We have a really close team. It's not about one person. But I was impressed with Grant. They were very athletic and competed with us."

Einloth came up big in the final seconds of the third quarter. His personal 8-point run gave the Knights their first lead of the game at 53-51.

Hanlin hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game in the fourth quarter. He finished with a game-high 22 points. That helped Grant pull within 57-54.

Buckels drove to the hoop for a 5-point lead before Dom DiProva's dunk accented the North win.