Downers Grove South looking for a championship
What a difference a few weeks makes.
Starting off the season with four losses in five games, Downers Grove South now finds itself in the championship game of the Jack Tosh 32-team Holiday Classic after Saturday's 59-55 overtime win over Lyons Township.
Victorious in eight straight contests to run their record to 9-4, the Mustangs will face York in Monday's 3 p.m. tourney final. Downers Grove South also extracted a bit of revenge after losing to the Lions in the consolation championship last year.
"This says a lot," said senior guard Wes Hooker, who posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. "A lot of teams really doubted us. We started off slow but now we are on an eight-game winning streak. Getting to the championship game, we've proved some people wrong. We are showing we can play with anybody."
The Mustangs led 25-23 at half and extended that margin to 40-32 at the end of three quarters, with Justin Eagins hitting a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
But the Lions (10-4) fought back in the fourth, outscoring Downers Grove South 14-6 and knotting the score at 46-apiece on a free throw with 1:40 left. Each team missed a 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds to send the game into overtime.
In the extra session the Mustangs got the job done at the free-throw line, converting all eight attempts after Eagins gave his team the lead for good at 51-49 with a basket. The senior finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds.
"We started believing in what the coaches were saying," Eagins said, when asked what sparked the Mustangs after the slow start to the season. "The game plans the coaches are drawing up, we believe in them. And we started playing together defensively and offensively, especially defensively."
Downers Grove South finished a perfect 13 for 13 at the free-throw line. The Mustangs also held Lyons Twp. to 42 percent shooting while outrebounding the Lions 27-18.
"Our defense has carried us," Downers South coach Kris Olson. "And our free throws have been clutch, especially in fourth quarters throughout this eight-game winning streak.
"That's the beautiful thing about this tournament. LT is a great team and they were on a wining streak too. It was just a matter of the ball bouncing our way at the end."
Timmeon Gamble added 11 points for the Mustangs. Nolan Niego topped Lyons Twp. with 25 points and Tyrese Shines had 14.