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Meadows-Buffalo Grove produced a double-overtime classic

Editor's note: Below is an edited version of the Feb. 7, 2020 boys basketball game between Rolling Meadows and Buffalo Grove.

So what do you fancy in a conference rivalry basketball game?

A late-season battle for first place in the standings?

A rowdy standing room only crowd?

One overtime?

Two overtimes?

An epic duel between two of the most highly regarded superstars in the area?

A 40-point game out of each of those superstars?

Well, the Feb. 7 Mid-Suburban League showdown between East Division heavyweights Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows had all of that. And much, much more.

After much back-and-forth, many oohs and ahhhhs and eight extra minutes of basketball, Rolling Meadows pulled out an exhausting and exhilarating 93-83 double-overtime thriller at Buffalo Grove.

There were 88 points scored between superstars Kam Craft of Buffalo Grove (46 points) and Max Christie of Rolling Meadows (42 points).

Eight-eight points between two players.

"It was a crazy game, a double-overtime game, I just had a lot of fun," said Christie, who scored 8 of his 42 points in the second overtime, including a thunderous dunk in the final minute, to help the Mustangs pull away.

"But I think it was a fun game to watch. I think we gave the crowd what they wanted to see."

Buffalo Grove entered the game with a perfect 7-0 MSL East record, while Rolling Meadows was 6-1 after losing to Buffalo Grove earlier in the season.

"Obviously if we would have won that game, we would have won the East," said Craft, who scored all 7 of Buffalo Grove's points in the second overtime. "It was just a big game and everyone came out. "The crowd was really into it and I think it helped us throughout the game but things just didn't work out in the end and that's a tough loss."

Craft hit a jumper with 20 seconds left in regulation to give Buffalo Grove a 69-67 lead but then Christie tied the game with 9 seconds left with 2 free throws that ultimately brought on overtime.

In the first overtime, Craft, like he did in the second overtime, also had all of Buffalo Grove's points. Off a monster offensive rebound by Tyler Fricke, he hit a clutch 3-pointer with 46.9 seconds left to give the Bison a 76-73 lead.

But then Daniel Sobkowicz kept Rolling Meadows alive with a big-time 3-pointer with 12.4 seconds left. That set the stage for the second overtime.

Soon into the second overtime, Rolling Meadows started pulling away, starting with a jumper by freshman guard Cameron Christie and then 6 straight points by his older brother Max.

"We had a lot of moments where we were just one play away from ending it," Buffalo Grove coach Keith Peterson said. "And Rolling Meadows just has so much talent and so much ability and guys kept making plays and big shots and obviously Max is unbelievable."

"What a high school basketball game. Two really good teams, two really good players going at each other," Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said. "I have a lot of respect for Buffalo Grove and what they've done, and our guys battled too. It was quite a fun game on a Friday night."

Buffalo Grove-Meadows game provided an electric atmosphere

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