Boys Basketball: Fourth quarter a disaster for Niles North in loss
BY MARTY FARMER Contributor February 6, 2012 4:34PM
Niles North's Jaylen White (4) Eron Washington (21) and Maine West's Matt Finnander (center) go for the ball during a basketball game in Skokie, Friday, February 3, 2012 I David Banks~for Sun-Times Media
STANDINGS
CSL South
New Trier 7-1 18-4
Waukegan 7-1 13-8
Evanston 4-4 14-9
Maine South 4-4 16-10
Glenbrook S. 1-7 5-16
Niles West 1-7 3-15
CSL North
Glenbrook N. 6-2 15-5
Niles North 5-3 15-7
Maine West 5-3 12-9
Highland Park 4-4 12-9
Deerfield 4-4 9-10
Maine East 0-8 4-15
(Records through Sunday)
Article Extras
Updated: March 10, 2012 8:23AM
Fourth-quarter frustration boiled over for host Niles North in the closing seconds of Friday’s 61-49 loss to Maine West, as Vikings head coach Glenn Olson was ejected and Jaylen White was called for a flagrant foul.
While the ramifications of Olson’s early departure are a one-game suspension (to be served against Maine East), the loss most notably dropped Niles North into a second-place tie with Maine West. Both teams sport 5-3 conference records, trailing Glenbrook North (15-5, 6-2) in the Central Suburban North.
Niles North (15-7, 5-3) led 42-34 entering the fourth quarter, but the resilient Warriors outscored the Vikings 27-7 the rest of the way. Olson sensed a momentum change even prior to the wild fourth, which included Olson’s ejection, a double-technical foul, and four Vikings fouling out of the game.
“We did a good job for about 2 1/2 quarters, but we didn’t attack the way we wanted to down the stretch,” Olson said. “It was very tough for us because we were in dire foul trouble with our starters. We couldn’t establish any continuity with those guys playing limited minutes.”
Amid a frantic Maine West rally, the Vikings’ last lead came at 46-45 on a Billy Voitik basket midway through the period.
With Maine West (13-8, 5-3) clinging to a 52-49 advantage in the final minute, the Vikings’ B.J. Beckford missed a game-tying trey attempt, and Niles North’s top scorer, Malachi Nix, soon fouled out. Awarded a double-technical foul after Olson’s ensuing ejection, the Warriors scored nine unanswered points via a parade to the charity stripe over the last 30 seconds.
Although he struggled from the field, Nix led Niles North with 21 points. Beckford scored 11 points and Voitik added nine.
“We started the game well by attacking offensively and we also played pretty good defense,” Nix said. “I think we just got complacent and played too laid-back in the second half.”
Conor Hart and Kevin Garcia tallied 26 points apiece for Maine West. The senior tandem accounted for 36 of the Warriors’ 38 points in the second half. Maine West, which avenged a 51-43 loss earlier this season to the Vikings, made 30-of-42 free throws during Friday’s rematch.
The Vikings’ setback to Maine West, coupled with a 55-53 loss at Maine South on Jan. 31, suddenly has Niles North mired in a mini-slump after reeling off 10 wins in row. But the defending CSL North co-champs are far from worried.
“I feel great about our chances,” Olson said. “We still have a good record and are in the thick of the conference race.”
Further cause for optimism is the much-anticipated debut of Lorenzo Dillard, who’s set to play against Maine East after sitting out 22 games after transferring from Evanston.
“We’re excited to see Lorenzo on the court,” Olson said. “He has a great skill level, and he’s an outstanding passer and tremendous defender.”
The Vikings visit Maine East at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and welcome Hersey at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“Our focus is on taking one game at a time,” Nix said, “We just have to keep working hard in practice and try to pick up some wins over our last four (regular season) games.”
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