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Hot-shooting Naperville North sinks Metea

A couple times Friday the Naperville North student section broke out the "You can't stop him" chant in reference to 6-foot-7 Loyola recruit Tom Welch.

That may be true, but when the Huskies can get large points from someone else that makes them tougher to beat.

On Naperville North's Athletic Hall of Fame night Welch scored 23 points, 6-4 sophomore Grant Johnson scored 21, Naperville North shot 66 percent from the floor and made all 14 of its free throws in a 67-56 DuPage Valley Conference win over Metea Valley.

"Everyone's making progress," Welch said right before signing an autograph.

"The younger kids are just doing well with learning how to deal with the pressure and just play basketball. I think they were a little nervous, but they're getting used to it," Welch said.

Naperville North (5-4, 2-1) made 23 of 35 field goal attempts. The Huskies led by 15 points midway through the third quarter before Metea Valley (6-4, 1-1) pulled within 59-51 with 3:51 left to play led by Ethan Helwig and a big Myles Leavy 3.

"I thought our kids battled, made plays when we had to," said Naperville North coach Gene Nolan. "I just feel very fortunate to have won, because Metea's a very good team."

The Mustangs led 10-2 and were up 13-6 in the first quarter, then missed their next 9 shots. It allowed Naperville North to go up 19-13 at 5:01 of the second quarter and lead the rest of the way.

"Ever since we went there (10-2) my coach (Matt Walpole) said we turned into like a clam and wouldn't really budge. I think that kind of got to us because we kind of let Tom dictate everything that was going on," said Helwig, who scored 19 points to Leavy's 12. Together they made nine 3-point shots.

Welch had help. Whether in the half-court or on inbounds plays to Welch - who scored 9 second-quarter points, 8 in the fourth, and grabbed 10 rebounds - junior guard Myles Barry was finding the open man.

"Myles is an outstanding passer, and so is Tom," said Johnson, who sank 7 of his last 8 shot attempts in his first 20-point varsity game. "I know Tom hit me a couple times for good shots. I think just the movement we have around the ball, it really helps our offense flow, and that's when we get open shots."

After Metea cut its deficit to 8 it cooled down again. Welch and Liam Kim hit 4 free throws and Welch converted an up-and-under lay in to push the Huskies' lead back to 65-54 with 1:24 to play.

"I think guys are really getting more comfortable in their roles as varsity basketball players," Nolan said. "I think that's been a good part of these first nine games we've played."

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