The ending was predictable, which didn’t make it any less satisfying or exciting for Naperville Central.
The Redhawks are wired this way, still composed facing a one-point deficit with two seconds remaining in a game that would either extend or erase their hopes of contending for a DuPage Valley Conference title.
Virtually everyone in the gym knew the ball was going to Drew Crawford, and he still delivered another buzzer-beater in a season that's becoming defined by them. This one staggered Wheaton North 53-52 on Friday night in Naperville, keeping the Redhawks within striking distance of DVC frontrunner West Aurora.
The inbounds play placed Crawford under the basket, and two of his teammates on the elbow. Crawford curled around the screen set by Harrison Daniels toward the left corner. The Falcons didn’t switch, and Matt Schmitz passed to Crawford, who received an open look and shot in rhythm from about 18 feet out, with three blue jerseys running at him.
Central’s memory bank already includes the turnaround jumper Crawford buried to stun Naperville North last month, and his baseline-to-baseline drive to beat Notre Dame two weeks later. The latest deposit now raises the stakes for West Aurora’s visit to Naperville on Jan. 25.
Naperville Central 53,
Wheaton North 52
Wheaton North 16 10 18 8 – 52
Naperville Central 12 13 14 14 – 53
Wheaton North (13-4, 5-2 DVC)
Pierotti 1 0-0 3, Rosenberger 3 0-0 8, Pilalis 6 5-5 22, Fitzpatrick 0 0-0 0, Bagge 5 8-11 19.
Totals: 15 13-16 52.
Naperville Central (12-6, 5-2 DVC)
Crawford 6 6-9 18, Mike Schmitz 0 2-2 2, Daniels 3 2-2 8, Jones 1 0-0 2, Neufeld 5 3-6 13, Ondik 0 0-1 0, Matt Schmitz 2 6-8 10.
Totals: 17 19-28 52.
3-pointers: Wheaton North 9 – Pilalis 5, Rosenberger 2, Pierotti, Bagge. Naperville Central 0.
Rebounds: Wheaton North 13 (Bagge 4), Naperville Central 28 (Crawford 10).
Turnovers: Wheaton North 14, Naperville Central 15.
Fouls: Wheaton North 23, Naperville Central 14.
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