Justin Diedrich looked surprised as he caught a pass as the last precious seconds ticked away in overtime Friday.
But instinct took over as the 6-foot-4-inch DeKalb senior quickly launched a 12-foot game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lead the Barbs to a 69-67 victory over host East Aurora.
No. 18 DeKalb (15-0, 5-0) took over sole possession of the Upstate Eight lead, while the Tomcats (9-4, 4-1) slipped into second.
“I thought he was going to drive it one or two more dribbles toward the basket and then draw a foul,” Barbs coach Chuck Schramm said. “We were supposed to run a press-breaker and then take whatever comes, and I think he got the ball late. But he had the confidence from the free throw that he had made [16 seconds earlier].”
That free throw was the only point the Barbs scored over a two-minute span as East Aurora guard Demone Williams almost singlehandedly pulled his team back into contention, scoring seven straight points to force a 67-67 tie with 10 seconds to play.
But DeKalb successfully got the ball into Diedrich’s hands for the game-winner. East Aurora also had rallied in the fourth quarter, coming back from a 52-47 deficit. Williams’ free throw with 42 seconds left in regulation tied the game 59-59. Diedrich closed with a game-high 25 points, while teammates Eric Hollister and Erik Jaske each had 14.
Williams had 24 to lead the Tomcats, who also got 13 from Raymond Anthony.
Jack McCarthy.
Next: Saturday at home vs. Bartlett.
1. Thornwood: Defeated No. 12 Bloom 58-47.
See story, Back Page.
Next: Friday at Homewood-Flossmoor.
3. Lincoln-Way:Lincoln-Way survived a scare from host Sandburg to escape with a 46-43 win in the SICA West .
Adam Ferrari (12 points) broke a 39-39 tie with 2:46 left to give Lincoln-Way (13-1, 4-0) the lead for good. Cory Cummens, who had 21 points, missed a long three-point attempt for Sandburg (10-6, 2-2) as time expired.
“I thought I got a couple big baskets at the end,” Ferrari said. “We always seem to find a way to win.”
Sandburg led by five in the fourth quarter until Knights forward Kevin Menard (13 points) sank a three-pointer to ignite the decisive rally. Adam White hit one of two free throws with four seconds left to preserve the victory.
Next: Tuesday at Hillcrest.
4. Farragut: Beat Westinghouse 53-45.
See story on this page.
Next: Saturday vs. Aurora Christian at Downers Grove North.
5. Marshall: In a matter of seconds, Justin Bowen went from the loneliest man on the floor to the most beloved.
The 6-6 Marshall senior drained two free throws with no time on the clock to give the No. 5 Commandos a thrilling 63-62 victory over Curie.
“I had never been in that situation before,” Bowen said.
Bowen (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Ronald Davis (16 points) engineered Marshall’s miracle comeback. The Commandos denied Curie a second consecutive Red West upset. The Condors (12-3, 1-1), who upset Farragut on Wednesday, suffered three turnovers in the final two minutes. With Marshall down 59-51 with 2:25 to play, Davis scored eight straight points during an 8-2 Commandos run. Bowen tied the game 61-61 on a layup off a Curie turnover with 26 seconds to play.
Curie’s Terrance Williams was fouled with eight seconds remaining, but he missed the second shot. Following a timeout, Marshall (15-2, 3-0) worked the ball down court, but it was knocked out of bounds with two seconds to play. Marshall coach Al Williams designed a play for 6-8 Kelly Whitney (11 points), but he was covered and Bowen got loose underneath but was fouled by Williams. Jimmy Gunn led Curie with 16 points.
Next: Wednesday at Westinghouse.
6. West Aurora:The Blackhawks (12-2, 5-1) cruised in the DuPage Valley behind Jamaal Thompson’s 26 points and Derik Hollyfield’s 15 points, topping Naperville North 68-45. West Aurora outscored the Huskies 20-10 in the second quarter to open a 33-16 halftime lead.
Next: Friday at Naperville Central.
7. Morgan Park: Quinnel Brown had 30 points and five steals as the Mustangs (9-3, 2-0) defeated Chicago Vocational 66-54 in the Public Red South. Antonio Stamps led Vocational (10-6, 0-2), which trailed 43-28 at the half..
Next: Saturday vs. Atlanta Westlake at Young.
8. St. Patrick: Rick Romeli scored 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Marian Catholic (10-4, 5-1) upset St. Patrick 63-57, ending the Shamrocks’ 10-game winning streak. Michael Gavin added 10 points for Marian. Anthony Scala scored 13 points to lead St. Patrick (11-2, 5-1), which shot only 21-for-52 from the field.
Next: Saturday at home vs. Marian Catholic.
10. Carver: Lost in seven overtimes to Simeon 89-86.
See story, Back Page.
Next: Wednesday at home vs. Vocational.
11. Shepard: Mike Smith scored 22 points and Mike Hall had 17 points as the Astros (13-2, 2-2) downed Homewood-Flossmoor 55-46 in the SICA East. Shepard led 48-44 with 1:52 left before Smith and Hall combined to shoot 7-for-8 from the line to clinch it. Chris Lidell scored 15 points for H-F (8-7, 2-2), which led 34-33 after three quarters.
Next: Friday at home vs. Thornton.
12. Bloom: Lost to No. 1 Thornwood 58-47.
See story, Back Page.
Next: Saturday at Addison Trail.
13. Joliet: Joliet Township’s All-Stater Roger Powell has played enough games in Lockport’s gymnasium, nicknamed “the Pit,” to know that you better be ready for the always merciless fans who will do just about anything to throw the opposition off its game.
Friday night was Illinois-bound Powell’s last game at Lockport before a standing-room only crowd, and the 6-6 senior made sure he made a lasting impression on the home crowd during his team’s 60-46 win.
“Their fans are rowdy and they scream at you the whole game,” Powell said of the Lockport patrons who chanted “Roger, Roger” throughout the contest.
Powell was hardly fazed, especially in the final quarter when he scored 15 of his game-high 26 points to help offset a late third-quarter run by the Porters.
The Porters (9-5, 2-2 in SICA West) cut a 14-point Joliet lead down to 38-35 behind Alando Tucker, who scored 14 of his team-high 24 points in the period.
Next: Friday at home vs. Sandburg.
14. New Trier: Lost to No. 18 Evanston 65-42.
See story, Back Page.
Next: Monday vs. Peoria Manual at Peoria Civic Center.
15. Hillcrest: After a three-week layoff, the Hawks (12-3, 4-0) showed no rust in a 104-65 rout of Tinley Park in the SICA Central. Chris Dryer’s 13 points led six Hillcrest players in double figures. Charles Dryer, Armon Gates and Dennis Higgins each tallied 12 points for Hillcrest.
Next: Tuesday at home vs. Lincoln-Way.
17. Manley: Young defeated the Wildcats (8-6, 0-3) 82-65 in the Public Red West contest.
Next: Wednesday at Curie.
18. Evanston: Defeated No. 14 New Trier 65-42.
See story, Back Page.
Next: Friday at home vs. Maine South.
19. Julian: Sean Dockery scored 22 points as the Jaguars (11-5, 3-0) started the second quarter with a 12-2 run en route to a 88-65 victory over Washington in Public Red South action.
Next: Saturday vs. Birmingham (Ala.) Woodlawn at Young.
20. Proviso East: Dee Brown tallied 17 points and Shannon Brown added 16 points as the Pirates (10-3, 4-0) rolled past Hinsdale South 79-53 in the West Suburban Gold.
Next: Saturday at Waukegan.
