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St. Charles North rallies by Bartlett

Clutch shots, crazy momentum swings and controversy - there wasn't much missing in St. Charles North's wild 63-60 victory over Bartlett on Monday in the opening round of the Class 4A St. Charles East regional.

After the Hawks went on a 13-0 run to turn a 55-47 deficit into a 60-55 lead, the North Stars outscored Bartlett 8-0 over the final 2:22 to stun the Hawks, reversing an earlier 17-point loss.

Mikey Schroeder led the North Stars with 24 points including a perfect 7 of 7 at the free-throw line.

"We battled," Schroeder said. "It's that adversity we've talked about the whole entire year. We've been beat down the whole entire year. We just fought. It feels good right now. We realize our record doesn't mean anything. When we beat Jacobs we realized we can play with anyone and we've been rolling ever since."

Now 8-15 overall, the North Stars have won 5 of 7. They play Batavia (19-9) in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

"These guys have been though the fire and now they are as strong as can be at the right time of the season," North Stars coach Tom Poulin said. "I'm proud of my kids. They have heard this and that about the season and as a group they have continued to work in practice and they continued to believe. Our leaders haven't allowed us to stop working for a night like tonight."

Schroeder hit the game-winning free throws with 35.1 seconds left, giving St. Charles North a 61-60 lead. He was fouled on a drive moments after the North Stars kept possession on a loose ball out of bounds when it appeared the ball went off Schroeder.

If Bartlett (18-11) was upset by that call, the Hawks were livid moments later when they worked the ball inside to Jason Hasenberg who turned and scored with 5 seconds left for a 62-61 lead. But officials waved off the basket, calling Hasenberg for an offensive foul for hooking his defender.

Jarod Karom sank 2 free throws to make it 63-60, and Benjamin Reyes couldn't get his 3 to drop at the buzzer.

"It was a nice fourth quarter run to take the lead and then we made a couple dumb turnovers, missed a couple shots," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "Ultimately we hit our free throws we win the game. You don't want it to go to situations where the officials can take the ball out of your hand.

"I thought end of the game scenario I don't think I've ever seen an official call a play like that. They should have called displacement, that is a point of emphasis. And then to call my kid on a hook in the last 10 seconds of the game? That's a bad call. But like I said you can't be in that position."

Hasenberg's 3-pointer gave the Hawks a 32-30 halftime lead, one of 14 ties or lead changes. Schroeder hit an even longer 3 to close the third quarter; he scored 13 in the quarter putting the North Stars up 50-45.

They were still in control 55-47 on Schroeder's 2 free throws with 6:19 to go when Hasenberg's conventional 3-point play ignited 13 straight Bartlett points. Reyes drained a 3 and then a floater to tie the game at 55. Another 3-point play from Robby Jimenez, then a Hasenberg bucket put the Hawks up 60-55.

Sophomore Kyle King made a spin move and hit a short fadeaway to stop the run. King scored again on an offensive rebound bringing the North Stars within 60-59 with 1:10 left.

"They didn't allow themselves to lose even down five," Poulin said. "A lot of teams fold right there and say 'Man, we gave it our best.' That was March Madness. That was a heck of a matchup."

The North Stars hope Tuesday is too as they look to reverse 62-56 and 63-49 losses to Batavia.

"It's hard to beat a team three times," Schroeder said. "I think we're ready."

King added 10 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, and Armon Osborne came off the bench for 10 points. Hasenberg and Jimenez both scored 17 for the Hawks, and Tyler Pauletti added 14.

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