Buffalo Grove gets past Wheeling
Beating a team three times in a season is tough enough. When you face that same opponent for the fourth time, and in the Class 4A state tournament, well it's a whole new ballgame.
But that's what Buffalo Grove did Wednesday night in beating Wheeling 51-49 at home in the semifinals. The win now pits the Bison against Barrington Friday night.
Buffalo Grove (15-10) opened a 20-point lead at 45-25 with: 49 left in the third quarter on Connor Woodin's 3-pointer.
Adidas Davis, who would lead BG with 15 points and 7 rebounds, keyed an explosive third quarter for the Bison.
"We had played them three times already in the season and we knew that this one would not be easy," said Davis. "We were able to hold our composure against their pressure and we were able to get the win."
Leading 25-21 at halftime Davis scored the first 9 points of the quarter for the Bison for a 34-23 lead.
Elijah Hutchinson tallied before BG went on a 11-0 lead and the 45-25 lead.
"I encouraged my teammates to make the good plays which we did to start the third quarter, " said Davis. "Our bench did a great job and I am happy for them. We're glad to be playing another day."
"Wheeling played us hard," said Bison coach Keith Peterson.
"We had that great run in the third quarter and sometimes it's hard to play with a lead like we did and they kept making plays. Adidas made a big play down the stretch for us and that's what seniors do. When he gets hot he gets going we are a hard team to guard. I was really happy for him tonight as well as our other players."
Wheeling (12-16) started its comeback when Hutchinson (16 points) scored and was followed by Aima Igiehon basket on Hutchinson's assist.
Seven points by coach Tom Antosz never say die Wildcats cut the lead to 45-36 to start the fourth quarter.
Jacob Heinrich's basket for BG stopped the bleeding momentarily before Wheeling went on a 11-0 run to tie the score at 47 with 1:24 left in the game.
Igiehon (19 points, 7 rebounds) did most of the damage with 9 points including a 3 -point play to tie the game.
Josh Grote (11 points) gave the Bison a short lived 49-47 lead with two free throws before Aman Shah (8 points) tied the game on a layup.
Davis then drove the lane for Buffalo Grove and scored for the 51-49 lead with 21 seconds left.
JJ Kaspar's shot inside the arc bounced off the rim and Hutchinson rebounded but his scoring attempt came too late as the buzzer sounded.