DVC: Three to play

There were several highlight reel moments above the rim on Tuesday night – Benet forward Ryan Haggerty slammed in an offensive rebound, and Wheaton North forward Tom Fitzpatrick exploded for three more dunks. But otherwise you could understand why Kramer left the gym early, before the end of Wheaton North’s methodical 59-36 victory.

The win reinforced the idea that the Falcons are a team with multiple options. If you want to be a great team, Wheaton North coach Jim Nazos said afterward, you can’t just show up and expect forward John Bagge or guard Dave Pilalis to have a big night – you need balance.

Minutes later, standing in a hallway outside the gym, Benet coach Marty Gaughan made this claim: “They’re the best basketball team that we’ve played this year.”

Gaughan outlined Benet’s scouting report: Keep pushing in transition. Rotate the basketball and force Wheaton North’s post players to slide up the lane, hopefully creating opportunities inside. Defensively, the Redwings almost exclusively went man-to-man. The problem is - how much help-side defense can you give?

“They’re five guys on the floor that can score,” Gaughan said. “When you try to cheat off of one, you know, they take advantage of it.”

That inside-outside combination has placed Wheaton North (9-2) atop the DVC alongside Central (9-2), with West Aurora (8-3) trailing by a game with three to play. Breaking down the remaining games below, which team will win the title?

Central
at Wheaton Warrenville South (Fri.)
vs. West Chicago (Sat.)
at Wheaton North (Wed.)

Wheaton North
vs. Glenbard East (Fri.)
at West Aurora (Sat.)
vs. Central (Wed.)

West Aurora
at West Chicago (Fri.)
vs. Wheaton North (Sat.)
at Glenbard East (Wed.)