Almost everything that could go wrong for Thornridge did Friday night in Flossmoor.
The operative word here, however, is “almost.”
One thing went right at the most opportune time for the 17th-ranked Falcons, and they managed to fend off Homewood-Flossmoor 46-43 in double-overtime to solidify their grip on first place in the SICA East.
“I feel very fortunate to get out of here with a win,” said Thornridge coach Jasper Williams.
How fortunate?
The Falcons shot only 35 percent from the field on the night, went almost one full quarter without a field goal and blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to let the Vikings take the game into overtime.
In the second three-minute overtime session, Thornridge (13-3, 5-0) held the ball for the opening 2 minutes 20 seconds before John Lott hit one of two free throws to give the Falcons a 44-43 lead.
H-F (10-6, 4-2) came down with a chance to win it but had the ball stripped away with :22 left and watched Lott scoop it up on the run and score the game-clinching layup :04 later.
The Vikings, who have now lost three straight, missed badly on two three-point attempts in the final seconds to let Thornridge steal the game.
“I thought they intimidated us at the beginning of the ballgame,” said H-F coach Paul Jackson.
“Some of the kids lost their composure, but as the game went on, they gained a little more confidence in themselves.”
It was a sloppy, low-scoring game marred by a procession of missed layups and unforced turnovers by both teams.
At one point in the first half, Thornridge led by three points before going 7 1/2 minutes without a field goal.
But when the drought finally ended-on a Richard Ashmon jumper with 1:18 left in the half-the Falcons still led by three.
H-F, which shot 38 percent, missed six of seven shots in that span.
Thornridge led 32-22 heading into the fourth quarter, and H-F still trailed by 10 with 3:31 left in regulation when Robbie Pangallo canned a three-pointer to start the comeback.
Another three by Kevin Durham pulled H-F to within three points, and after being fouled on a three-point attempt with :38 left, Pangallo hit all three free throws to tie it.
The two teams traded points in the first overtime before Williams opted to hold the ball for almost the entire second OT session.
“They played good defense against us, and we haven’t shot the ball well for the last two months,” Williams said.
“Hopefully, we’ll get it back in time for the state tournament.”
Now the Falcons have a two-game lead on their closest pursuers in the SICA East, with a key date at Thornton next Friday.
Even so, Jackson wasn’t ready to concede the conference title just yet.
“They’re in control, but they have one more game at Thornton, and they’re on an upswing,” Jackson said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Thornton beats them.”
