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Waukegan's all-around effort subdues Stevenson

Lately, it has not been all about the 3-pointer for the Waukegan boys basketball team.

"A few weeks ago we played Warren, and I'll never let our guys forget about this number until they graduate, but we were 0-for-16 from the 3-point line. And we still won the game," Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw said. "Our guys think that 3-pointers have to be a massive source of offense for us. It's a spot source of offense, but it doesn't have to be the diet."

On Friday, the Bulldogs weren't stuffing themselves on 3-pointers, they had only 5 on the night, but they certainly got their fill at just the right times.

In a nip-and-tuck game against visiting North Suburban Conference foe Stevenson, Waukegan turned the tide on a 3-pointer and free throws that came from a 3-point attempt. The Bulldogs were able to avenge an earlier loss this season to Stevenson with a 61-58 win.

Waukegan is now 16-8 on the season and in third place in the North Suburban Conference with an 8-4 record. Stevenson drops to 19-5 and 11-2, but clinched the league title earlier this season.

With Waukegan trailing 57-53 with about 90 seconds remaining, forward Carson Newsome got fouled on a 3-point attempt and was awarded 3 free throw attempts. He made all 3 free throws to pull Waukegan to within a single point (57-56).

Then, on Waukegan's next possession, sophomore forward Bryant Brown hit a 3-pointer from deep in the corner to put the Bulldogs up 59-57, a lead they would never relinquish.

"We are playing all together, all five players moving in unison and keeping the game flowing," said Newsome, a Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit who poured in a game-high-tying 27 points. "And my teammates believed in me. I was just thinking, 'Just make the free throws.'"

Waukegan was 5-for-5 at the line in the fourth quarter, all in the final 90 seconds.

Stevenson had the ball after a time out with 9.7 seconds left, and Indiana recruit Justin Smith took a 3-point shot from the left side to try to tie the game. But it was wide right.

"We just made some mistakes down the stretch and they took advantage of those mistakes," said Smith, who also scored 27 points to share game-high scoring honors with Newsome. "And we didn't execute when we had our chances. I also didn't defend very well tonight."

Smith was most often guarding Newsome, who had 17 points at halftime and finished with two 3-pointers.

But Newsome didn't always keep up with his own defensive assignment, which was Smith. Smith was relentless at attacking the rim and drawing contact. He connected on 13-of-16 free throws.

"That was a really good matchup and there probably wasn't a lot of defense played…since they both had 27 points," Ashlaw said with a laugh. "They are both very good players."

Brown provided a good Robin to Newsome's Batman for Waukegan. He finished with 18 points on 3 three-pointers.

Meanwhile, Stevenson also got double-figures from reserves Jackson Qualley and Tyrek Washington. Both had 10 points on two 3-pointers.

"We just made some bad decisions at the end," Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose said. "We were down in the first half, clawed back and got up on them, then we made some bad decisions where we had three straight turnovers. Then they made shots, getting fouled on that 3-pointer and then hitting that corner three-pointer."

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