Owen Kyhl’s point total through four quarters and the first overtime of Monday night’s Class 3A Hoffman Estates boys basketball supersectional was the same as his coach’s.

Grayslake Central senior forward Jake Gibson’s voice would not cut it at a crucial moment Friday night.

After winning regional games by two and four points last week, No. 7-seeded St. Viator was battle-tested when it headed into the Class 3A sectional semifinals against No. 2-seeded host Grayslake Central Wednesday night.

That old playoff adage/ultimatum, “Win or go home,” did not apply at Lakes on Friday night.

Behind a Herculean effort from 6-foot-9 senior center Drew Scharnowski, who nearly recorded a triple double with a game-high 35 points, 17 rebounds and 8 blocked shots, Burlington Central (28-5) captured its second consecutive Class 3A regional championship with Friday night’s 68-54 victory over Wauconda in Wheaton.

It’s not often that just one defensive play can completely turn around a basketball game.

A common theme with the North Suburban Conference co-leading Stevenson boys basketball team?

Earlier this season, Grayslake Central scored just 37 points in a 1-point victory over Grayslake North.

Lakes heads into the back-half of the regular season right in the thick of the Northern Lake County Conference race.

First place was on the line Wednesday night when Lakes took on Grayslake Central in a key battle in the Northern Lake County Conference.