Naperville Central gets third win vs. Naperville North
Naperville Central teammates Cam Dougherty and Chris Conway waited for the perfect storm.
Three years together on varsity culminated in something the Redhawks' boys basketball program hasn't seen since 2009 - a regional championship thanks to Friday's 45-32 victory over Naperville North in the Class 4A Naperville Central title game.
The Redhawks might have beaten their cross-town rival three times this season, but it gets no better than doing it in the playoffs on your home court.
"The other years on varsity we came up short," said Conway, who gave his team a 10-point lead with less than two minutes to play with a two-handed dunk. "That was our main goal coming into the season, to win a regional. It feels so good that we got it but we're not done yet. Unfinished business."
A pair of Myles Barry free throws brought the No. 11 Huskies (14-17) within 31-27 early in the fourth quarter, but No. 3 Naperville Central (22-10) pulled away with eight straight free throws and Conway's dunk.
Dougherty made 7 of 8 fourth-quarter free throws while scoring a game-high 22 points. Conway had 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the line and Kyle Baskin rounded out the scoring with 6 points.
"You've got to give credit to Naperville Central," said Barry, who led his team with 12 points. "They're a good team. We'll keep our heads up. Obviously, this stings but we had a good season."
Naperville Central controlled most of the game and trailed just once - briefly - when Naperville North scored 7 straight points to start the second quarter. Twice the Redhawks held an 8-point lead before extending it to double digits in the waning minutes of the game.
"Finally getting a regional plaque and getting it at home, it's pretty remarkable," Dougherty said. "The old thing in basketball is you can't beat a team three times in a season, but we were excited to get North as a matchup because of how fun of a game it is."
The Huskies were without starter Mike Imhoff due to injury, and sophomore guard Zeke Williams played his first game since suffering a concussion on Feb. 22. Like the second DuPage Valley Conference cross-town game, a 48-45 Redhawks win, Naperville North kept battling.
"They were just a great group to coach," said Huskies coach Gene Nolan. "The hardest part of this isn't that we didn't win a regional. It's that we can't come back to practice tomorrow."
Naperville Central advances to the Addison Trail sectional semifinals to face No. 2 Glenbard East (22-9), an 81-79 overtime winner over Batavia, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Win that and the Redhawks are one step away from their first sectional title since 2005.
"These kids love each other and believe in each other," said Redhawks coach Pete Kramer. "This is a tribute to them."
Twitter: @kevin_schmit