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Naperville North's Elston no stranger to buzzer-beating shots

Winston Elston for the win ... again.

For the second time in a month, Naperville North's junior guard knocked down a game-winning buzzer-beating shot. This time it came in overtime as the Huskies grabbed Saturday's key DuPage Valley Conference victory over Wheaton Warrenville South.

Elston's heroics came as no surprise after he hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Hinsdale South in the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic semifinals. Having the ball in his hands late in games has worked out well for the Huskies.

"Maybe some kids like to take that shot at the end," said Huskies coach Jeff Powers. "I think all of our kids want to hit that last shot."

On Jan. 8 sophomore center Chris Johnson converted a three-point play in a 44-42 DVC win over Glenbard North. Junior Mitch Lewis is usually the focal point for defenses, but he's been more than willing to dish the ball to teammates.

As young as the Huskies are this season, they've developed a strong collective sense of court awareness. It's a major reason why Naperville North (14-3, 7-1) is tied atop the DVC standings with Lake Park at the midway point of the league season.

"We're still young and we're still learning every day," Powers said. "But they're starting to get it and see things on their own out there."

Bad timing:

Just when Addison Trail junior forward Michael Williams started to discover his varsity rhythm, injury struck.

Williams missed his seventh straight game in Saturday's 52-50 win over Lane Tech. He's been out with a lingering ankle sprain.

"He was really starting to come on for us," said Blazers coach Brendan Lyons. "He just gives us another versatile body. He shoots it well, he rebounds, he's active. Defensively, he's just there for us."

Williams is one of the many juniors keeping the Blazers (11-9, 2-3) competitive in the West Suburban Gold and nonconference play. Jack Kalbas, a varsity member as a sophomore, Stevan Jones and Colton Noel are among the others pitching in to bolster the ranks of five contributing seniors.

Williams was enjoying his best game of the season - a 24-point performance against Proviso East on Jan. 8 - when the injury occurred. His return would go a long way in keeping the Blazers a factor in the Gold race down the stretch.

"It came at an inopportune time for him because he was playing well and we have a ton of games right now," Lyons said. "We want to make sure not to rush him back. The last thing you want is for him to roll it again and lose him for an even longer period of time."

Belief:

It's one thing to win a game while scoring big numbers. It's another to win while compiling a season low, as West Chicago (16-4, 4-1) did Tuesday in its 33-31 nonconference victory over Glenbard South.

"Taking nothing away (from) Glenbard South, it's a good basketball team. They did a nice job defensively against us and I think we did a nice job defensively against them," said West Chicago coach Bill Recchia, watching film of Friday's Upstate Eight Valley opponent, Bartlett, as he spoke.

"I don't believe that at any point in time one single player on our squad believed we would lose that ballgame," he said.

Not even when West Chicago's leading scorer, junior guard Tai Bibbs, scored 11 points under his average of 16. (Instead it was his brother, senior swingman Mikey Bibbs, who scored nearly half his team's points, with 15.)

Or that the Wildcats won while scoring 7 points less than in any game this season. West Chicago scored 40 in losses to DeKalb and Glenbard East. The Wildcats average 58 points as a team.

Glenbard South led 31-29 with 5 minutes, 12 seconds left to play, but didn't score again.

"The kids are really buying in defensively, taking a lot of pride in defense," Recchia said. "It all starts on the defensive end. Everyone knows that, and getting kids to buy in and getting the kids to believe - which they do - is a great hurdle for us."

Team of the future:

Montini had its best stretch of the season from Jan. 19-23. The Broncos lost in overtime to West Chicago, beat Providence-St. Mel to earn their first Chicago Catholic League North win, and beat nonconference foe Ottawa Marquette.

Montini (6-13, 1-5) is obviously built for the future, starting sophomores Mychale Hyland and Jayston Williams and freshman Raymond "Ray Jay" Dennis. Williams had consecutive games of 24 and 25 points in the wins over St. Mel and Marquette.

"There's a lot of room to grow, we still make a lot of mental mistakes because of our youth and immaturity. But at the same time they're not letting it devastate them," said the Broncos' first-year coach, Daryl Thomas, a former star at St. Joseph High School and Indiana University.

Beside the youngsters, who also include 6-foot-7 freshman Jeffrey Jablonski, Thomas credits many other players with helping get the team on track.

There's the corps of football players such as Justin Blake, Luke Stone, Will Smith and Darrell Ramsey. Thomas said they've brought in energy and, from a team that won the Class 6A football championship, a winning mentality.

There is experience with senior Kevin Bodee and junior Michael Orr, key off the bench. And also senior starters Kevin Brachmann, the inside banger who grabbed 14 rebounds against St. Mel; and Jack Westerkamp, the reigning IHSA 3-point contest King of the Hill.

"Those are my captains. Those are the guys I lean on most for stability," Thomas said. "They've been the brightest stars in our program because of how they've handled everything."

Other contributors such as senior guard Alex Narsolis have helped Montini double last season's victory total. It's still not a lot, but the best may yet come for the Broncos.

"We've only had 6 wins," Thomas said, "but they've all helped us compete in all aspects of games. They've helped us get over the hump."

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