Haflinger, Lakes stand tall against Grayslake North

A 6-foot-5 power forward, Ian Haflinger doesn't look like a player who would request the basketball knowing the opponent plans to foul.

Then again, Lakes didn't seem like a team that could beat Grayslake North on its home court.

Both happened Tuesday night, however.

And Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh saw it coming. Haflinger's game-high 26 points and 9 rebounds led the way in a 67-59 upset for Lakes, which got off to a great start, withstood a couple of Grayslake North runs and then executed at the both ends of the court down the stretch.

Grayslake North's Jamal Thomas had a season-high 31 points, 7 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds in the Northern Lake County Conference game.

"We had shot unbelievably well the first time we played them," Grunloh said of the Knights' 70-57 win at Lakes on Dec. 3. "The first half tonight was the exact same of the last time. Give (Lakes credit). They made shots. But at some point we have to realize it's not the other teams shooting their best performance of the year against us. It's because they're wide open."

The loss dropped Grayslake North (13-5, 5-2) two games back of NLCC-leader North Chicago. The Knights visit North Chicago on Friday night, looking to avenge a December loss.

Lakes, which also got 14 points from Kyle Rohr and 12 from Michael Behrendt, improved to 8-11 and 4-4. The Eagles were coming off weekend losses to North Chicago and Carmel.

"This was probably the most complete game we've played," Haflinger said. "Everybody was just sharing the ball and finding the wide-open guy."

Haflinger shot 9 of 15 from the floor and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. He went to the line three times in the final 34 seconds to shoot a one-and-one, and each time he made both free throws.

"He came over at the one of the timeouts saying, 'I'm feeling it at the free-throw line,' " Lakes coach Chris Snyder said. "I said, 'All right, let's get him the ball then.' Those (free throws) were huge because North is never out of it with the way they shoot the ball."

To Haflinger's point about sharing the ball, Lakes hit nine 3-pointers: Four by Rohr, two by Behrendt and one apiece from Stephen Gerrits, Jack Christensen and Demetrius Michels.

"They work hard," Grunloh said of the Eagles. "They light you up on screens, and they get open looks."

Rohr put the Eagles in front for good, at 54-53, when he hit a 3-pointer with 3:01 left in the fourth. A minute later, he knocked down another 3, from the top of the key, to make it 59-53.

"Those shots reminded me of the Johnsburg tournament, when he hit the game-winner at the end," Haflinger said of Rohr's game-winning 3 at the buzzer in the season opener against Crystal Lake South.

"He's the kind of a shooter who when he's feeling it, he's got that ice water (in his veins)," Snyder said of Rohr. "You definitely feel comfortable with him letting that shot go."

James Connolly had 14 points, including a pair of second-half 3-pointers, for Grayslake North. When Thomas (11-of-20 shooting, 8 of 8 free throws) knocked down a pair of foul tosses with 4:19 left to give the Knights a 53-51 lead, things looked good for the home team.

"I just think Lakes had a phenomenal game," Thomas said. "Down the stretch, we didn't rebound as well as we normally do. But you got to give all praise to those (Lakes) guys."

"It's definitely our best win to date because they're a really good team," Snyder said. "To win on the road, after not a great weekend for us, shows a lot about these guys. I thought the response from them was outstanding."