Naperville Central executes against WW South
With two evenly matched teams that split their regular-season meetings, Wednesday's boys basketball regional matchup was tight as expected and came down to execution.
Fortunately for Naperville Central, it was the Redhawks who had a slight edge in execution and a huge edge at the free-throw line as they knocked off Wheaton Warrenville South 48-42 in a semifinal of the Class 4A Benet regional. With the win Naperville Central (16-11) earns a shot at the host Redwings in Friday's regional final looking for the program's first regional title since 2009.
"It just came down to kids making plays and getting loose balls and getting rebounds," said Redhawks coach Pete Kramer. "I'm really proud of the kids. Everybody that played contributed and these kids are excited for Friday night."
Against the Tigers, the contest was tight throughout but the Redhawks executed a patient inside-outside attack on offense and then took advantage of a big edge at the free-throw line to hang on to the win. Naperville Central did some damage inside with Harry Hallstrom, hit some timely 3-pointers - including a trio from James Kendrick - and then made 18 of 23 foul shots while limiting Wheaton Warrenville South (17-12) to just 3 of 4 free throws the entire night.
"Coming into this game we knew we were going to see zone," said Kendrick, who made all 6 of his foul shots in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-leading 15 points. "We knew that we were way bigger than them so we'd have to pound the ball inside and if we didn't get anything just kick the ball back out and get open shots. I think we executed pretty well. Just take what the defense gives you."
Hallstrom was limited to just 2 points in the first half, which ended with the Redhawks on top 20-15. But the big fella did help run an offense that saw Kendrick, Matthew Meier and Nick Kramer all knock down 3s a first half that didn't feature a ton of offense.
"We know they play zone almost every time we play them," said Hallstrom, who finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds on Wednesday. "So with me at the high post and my teammates getting me the ball at the high post, I'm able to turn and either drive or kick out to the corner for a 3, or down to another big for kind of a post shot right there. That worked out well for us."
For the Tigers, senior forward Eric Rasch was working well inside, spinning and muscling his way for 8 first-half points on his way to a 13-point, 6-rebound effort. In the second half Jeran Simpson caught fire with four 3s on his way to a game-high 16 points. His final basket from beyond the arc got the Tigers within 34-31 with 4:31 left to play, but Naperville Central held on by making 14 of 17 free throws in the final quarter.
"Our kids played really, really hard. I'm very proud of them," said Wheaton Warrenville South coach Mike Healy. "They're a group that got a lot out of what God's giving them and they kept fighting to the end. I was hoping we could go on a 6, or 8-0 run there … we got it to 3 and 4 there, but we just couldn't get it over the hump. For the most part they made their free throws and closed out a game the way you're supposed to."