Third time the charm for Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich lost twice to Warren in the regular season this year, both times in closely contested, down-to-the-wire games.
At Friday night's Hoffman Estates Class 4A regional final, Bears junior guard JR Cison said he and his teammates were determined not to let it happen again.
"I did not want to lose to them a third time," Cison said. "I knew we could pull through if we just did (in the game) what we do in practice, and if we played hard."
Though the Bears started fast and led throughout most of the contest, they had to rally in the final two minutes - and again when the game went to overtime.
Lake Zurich was able to score a 62-57 victory after an unusual extra period where 14 of the 17 points were tallied at the free throw line.
"Our guys kept great poise tonight," said Bears coach Billy Pitcher. "They didn't deviate from the game plan, they stuck with it, and the thing about our guys is that they just go hard and they never give up."
Senior guard Ryan Kutsor scored 18 points for Lake Zurich while Barak Diehl had a game-high 24 points for Warren and teammate Branden Ellis scored 23.
"Both teams play really hard, play really well and have guys that can score," said Blue Devils coach Jon Jasnoch. "You make a mistake, and the other team makes you pay for it."
The Bears broke out early, taking a 12-4 lead after a Kutsor bucket.
Lake Zurich extended the advantage to 9 points in the second quarter on Cison's 10-footer but Warren was able to fight back.
The Blue Devils trailed by just 39-37 entering the fourth period, getting a huge boost when Ellis made a steal at midcourt and finished with a dunk at the other end.
"Honestly I was pretty nervous (at that point)," Cison said.
A big 3-pointer midway through the fourth by Cison gave Lake Zurich some breathing room but Warren finally took a lead with two minutes left when senior Ian Schilling had a bucket followed by Diehl's 3-pointer.
With the score tied at 51-51, Warren had the final chance in regulation when it got the ball back with four seconds left but couldn't get off a good shot as a long 3-pointer misfired.
"They (Lake Zurich) were in a position that they had fouls to give," said Jasnoch of the final play before OT. "That put them at a pretty good advantage. We did call a play but they sagged back so we didn't get a good look."
After Ellis opened the scoring in OT with 2 free throws, Kutsor gave Lake Zurich the lead back for good when he sank a 3-pointer on the next possession.
It turned out to be the only basket of overtime.
"When we hit that 3, then we hit some free throws and got up by five," Cison said. "I think that's when we really secured it."
The teams kept trading OT free throws. Both were exemplary as Lake Zurich went 8-for-8 while the Blue Devils were 6-of-6.
The biggest foul shots of the game came with 10 seconds remaining when Bears senior Joe Heffernan hit a pair to seal the victory.
Lake Zurich 6-foot-3 senior forward Peter DiCerbo scored 14 points and added 6 rebounds while Cison finished with 13 points and teammate Will Tucker scored 8.
"We're a good shooting team," Pitcher said. "We expect to go to the line (and make our foul shots). We took care of the ball tonight in overtime, and we got stops and that was the key defensively."
"Branden Ellis (of Warren) is such a matchup nightmare," Pitcher added. "And Diehl and (Ian) Schilling are such good shooters. They were driving and scoring. Their guys know their roles so well. Warren was as hot as anybody. They may have been the hottest team in our area so this is a big win for us."
Adrian Sarancic pitched in with 4 points and 5 boards for the Blue Devils.
"Just two good teams that know each other very well," Jasnoch said. "And we had three great ballgames. This one they played a little better than us."