By Patrick Mooney
Right up to the final two minutes of the Naperville North Regional final, this fit the profile of a tense Redhawk victory.
Naperville Central had led for nearly all of Friday night, and appeared ready to end Glenbard West’s surprising run through this bracket and advance to the East Aurora Sectional semifinal.
Then Central, a team that defined itself by how it played in pressure situations, unraveled in what became a 40-36 loss.
Drew Crawford made only one of two free throws with 2:05 remaining to put Central ahead 36-31. From there Harrison Daniels and Crawford each missed the front end of a one-and-one to provide an opening for Glenbard West, a 13-seed looking to notch its third victory in five days.
Glenbard West advances to face Bartlett -- which destroyed top-seeded Batavia 86-63 -- on Tuesday night at East Aurora. But first there were several prisms through which to view this regional championship.
John Shurna dominated at times with 20 points and 12 rebounds, extending his Glenbard West career by at least one game before playing at Northwestern.
And the Hilltoppers slowed Crawford once they put Tyler Warden, a player of similar length and quickness, on Central’s explosive scoring guard, who erupted for 40 points earlier in the week in a triple overtime win over Geneva.
But Central coach Pete Kramer pointed to the free throw shooting: “You can look at all kinds of things but that’s what it came down to.”
Shane Bryant, who initially drew the Crawford assignment, drilled a long 3-pointer from about 22-feet out to pull Glenbard West within one point with 1:19 remaining. Shurna followed seconds later with another basket inside to give the Hilltoppers a 37-36 lead, their first since the opening minutes of the first quarter.
“That’s what happens when you can’t finish the game,” Central senior forward Matt Jones said.
The Redhawks exited the gym – and the state tournament – with 20 wins, a share of the DuPage Valley Conference title and the sense that this was the type of game they normally won.
Glenbard West 40, Naperville Central 36
GW 7 8 6 19 - 40
NC 10 10 9 7 - 36
Glenbard West (16-12)
Venson 1 0-0 2, Bryant 2 2-4 8, Shurna 8 4-11 20, Watt 1 0-2 2, Warden 2 2-5 6, Emanuel 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 8-22 40.
Central (20-8)
Crawford 7 3-5 17, Mike Schmitz 0 0-0 0, Daniels 1 0-1 3, Jones 3 1-1 7, Neufeld 3 0-0 6, Ondik 0 1-2 1, Matt Schmitz 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 5-9 36.
3-pointers: Glenbard West 2 – Bryant. Central 1 – Daniels.
Rebounds: Glenbard West 27 (Shurna 12), Central 16 (Jones 6).
Turnovers: Glenbard West 12, Central 9.
Totals fouls: Glenbard West 11, Central 17.
Fouled out: Central – Mike Schmitz.
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