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Plenty of highlights at Grayslake North tops Lakes

Grayslake North sophomore guard Ryan Connolly posterized a sophomore whose potential is also promising, and the basketball fun didn't stop.

Lakes erased a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but senior guard James Connolly scored 6 of his game-high 33 points in overtime, lifting Grayslake North to a 66-58 win in a season-opening game of the Johnsburg/Richmond-Burton Thanksgiving tournament in Johnsburg on Monday night.

"That might have been the best dunk I've ever seen," James Connolly said of his brother's dunk. "There's going to be more of that coming."

Grayslake North and Lakes will meet twice in Northern Lake County Conference action. If more of what Monday's game delivered is coming, buckle up. Trailing for most of the game, Lakes never took the lead in the fourth quarter but forced OT when Bradley Cherry hit 2 free throws - the second of which he banked in - with 1.8 seconds left.

"It shouldn't have gone into overtime," said James Connolly, who also grabbed 9 rebounds and whose point total tied his career high. "Because it's the beginning of the season, we don't have a lot of chemistry. And since it was our first game, I could tell that we were nervous. But I think as the season goes on, that will definitely develop more."

The development of his younger brother will be worth watching as well. The 6-foot Ryan Connolly, who started on varsity as a freshman, finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. His second dunk of the game came with 35 seconds left in the first half and was memorable.

The 6-footer got the ball in the lane, soared over Lakes 5-11 guard Leighsean Triplett and threw down the ball with one hand. As Connolly landed, he taunted Triplett, the referee said, and was called for a technical foul.

Senior guard Michael Behrendt split the technical foul shots to get Lakes within 33-22.

"He was really mad when he got dunked on," Behrendt said of Triplett, who's a varsity rookie. "I said to him, 'You're a sophomore. By the time you're a senior, you're going to be dunking on a much more people.' "

Triplett got some payback, hitting a 3-pointer with 1:25 left in the fourth to get the Eagles within 52-49. Eleven seconds later, his steal and one-handed dunk cut Grayslake North's lead to 52-51.

Lakes trailed 50-38 early in the fourth after Ryan Connolly fed his brother for a layup. But Lakes responded with an 11-2 run that Triplett (7 points) capped with his 3.

Eagles coach Chris Snyder credited an attitude shift by his team for changing the momentum in the fourth quarter. Lakes outscored the Knights 17-7, forcing 10 turnovers.

"It was just a change of mindset," Snyder said. "Guys started being a little more aggressive, attacking the hoop, and I thought that (aggressiveness) started at the defensive end."

Behrendt, a three-year varsity starter and team captain, led Lakes with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 steals. His three-point play in OT knotted the score at 58-58, before James Connolly scored in the post to give the Knights the lead for good.

"I've been working a lot on attacking the hoop," Behrendt said. "Sophomore year I was primarily a shooter. That was my role on the team, but now as a senior I need to step up and I need to attack the hoop as much as I can."

Behrendt's leadership has also impressed his coach.

"He's been great these first two weeks, not only playing-wise but also vocally," Snyder said.

The Connollys dominated the stat sheet for Grayslake North, as they scored all but 7 of their team's points. James shot 14 of 28 from the floor (two 3-pointers), and Ryan was 11 of 16.

"We know that the team relies on us a lot," James Connolly said.

Jon Smithson is Grayslake North's only other returning starter but is 6-3 and is being asked to play out position (center) on a team that doesn't have a player taller than 6-4. So coach Todd Grunloh knows his team has more growing to do.

"We all made mistakes," said Grunloh, who used 11 players. "Even James and Ryan made mistakes down the stretch. But we're asking Ryan to be out of position as well (point guard) until we get more situated and understand our roles better."

Cherry (12 points) was Lakes' only other double-digit scorer. Wade Parmly had 8 points, and Logan McCann took 3 charges.

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