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Grant picks up speed in OT victory over Round Lake

By the time Grant, which likes to go up-tempo, puts its foot on the gas, it was almost too late.

The Bulldogs found themselves trailing 36-30 to Round Lake in a first-round Class 4A boys basketball regional game Monday night at Schaumburg.

With just a couple of minutes left, they had surrendered 11 straight points to the Fremd sectional's 21st-ranked team, whose Michael Green was playing out of his mind in the post at both ends.

Enter Kyle Dupree.

"Dupree was huge down the stretch," said Grant head coach Wayne Bosworth, whose 12th-ranked team eked out a 42-40 overtime win and now gets fifth-seeded Grayslake North on Wednesday at Schaumburg in what should be a much more fast-paced game.

Round Lake (4-22) had just finished an 11-point run with Green (18 points) scoring off a steal, a drive for a 3-point play and a couple of free throws, complemented by Jose Vazquez' 3-pointer for the go-ahead basket and Ben Kuligoski's hoop.

But Dupree came to the rescue. After a Ben Kusiak bucket to break the 11-point spree, Dupree hit a free throw and a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime.

In overtime, his 3 and then his running leaner were all the points Grant (14-15) would score or need, countering Green's free throws and a Dallas Soto drive.

"We got a little careless with the ball late in the game," said Round Lake coach Jeremy Fisher, whose club's turnovers and missed free throws hurt. "The effort was there. Typical Grant-Round Lake game."

"Give Round Lake all the credit," said Bosworth.

"We've got to have a good practice tomorrow," said Dupree, one of five juniors who start for Grant. And then?

"We've got to play with more energy," he said.

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