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Naperville Central rallies to defeat Waubonsie Valley

With the boys basketball game on the line, Waubonsie Valley's defense had plenty of things to consider when trying to stop Naperville Central and hang on to its 1-point lead Friday night.

The Warriors were worried about Ben Wolf's force in the paint and sharp-shooting perimeter threats Nick Kramer and Noah Swope, whose 3-point shots had helped the visitors stay in the contest.

But when the Redhawks saw the Warriors come out in a zone defense following a timeout with 17 seconds left - and host Waubonsie Valley on top 37-36 - they wanted the ball in point guard Patrick Meier's hands and they wanted to spread the floor.

With the seconds ticking away Meier made a quick cut to the basket from the left side and, despite some contact, managed to convert a layup off the glass with 3.2 seconds to play. After the clutch basket Waubonsie Valley was called for a pair of technicals, and the Redhawks made 2 of 4 foul shots to finish off the improbable comeback win 41-37.

"We expected them to come out in zone but they came out man," Meier said. "We spaced out the floor and my teammates trusted me and we knew I could beat my guy off the dribble.

"I was looking for Nick (Kramer) in the corner for a 3, but they covered him very well because he's a great shooter. But if they're going to space out the floor and give me my left hand I'm going to take it."

Meier's big basket, followed up by the technical foul shots, allowed the visitors to rally from down 37-31 with just 1:39 left to play. Dillon Kane had a 2-point basket and Swope a huge 3 as Naperville Central (9-13, 4-8) rallied, and Wolf's big blocked shot also set the stage for the wild finish.

"We were trying to make sure the big kid didn't get the ball and the kid that we were not guarding made a shot," said Warriors coach Jason Mead, whose team was focusing much of its attention on the 6-foot-8 Wolf, who finished the night with 11 points and 9 rebounds, plus one very big block. "The kid made a tough shot. He was walled up and he made it with his left hand. It was a good play by that kid and then I blew it."

After Meier's basket there was some confusion as to how much time was left on the clock and the referees determined that 3.2 seconds were left. But before the ball was inbounded, the Warriors bench and then a player were each assessed a technical, which took away any chance the home team had for a last-second game-winner.

"We turned the ball over late and then they hit a couple 3s because we didn't close out on the zone and things just kind of snowballed," said Mead, whose team dropped to 8-14, 3-9. "(At the end) they called a technical on me because I said something the guy didn't like. It wasn't inappropriate he just decided that that was the point in time that he was going to call a technical today, and I don't know why."

The Warriors led 16-15 at the half before Naperville Central built a 28-24 lead after three quarters as Kramer and Kane each hit 3s. But Waubonsie Valley seemed back in control following baskets by Brian Phillips and Eric Cannan and then a pair of Cannon free throws made the score 37-31 late.

But Swope, who led all scorers with 13 points, started the comeback with his fourth 3 of the night with 53 seconds left.

"I just knew there's always time and you've got to step up and hit big shots," Swope said. "Nick didn't have many open looks, and 'P man' (Patrick Meier) found the gaps and I was open. It feels good when you're open."

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