Even flu can't slow Redhawks' Crawford

Naperville Central's Drew Crawford coils in preparation to make a move against Naperville North's Arnas Gintautas on Friday. The Redhawks got the best of their District 203 rivals, 43-32.
Jon Cunningham / For The Sun

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Drew Crawford was not operating at full strength because of the flu, but that did not stop the Naperville Central point-forward from being the best player on the floor in the latest installment of the Naperville North-Naperville Central rivalry.

Paced by Crawford's 21 points, the Redhawks staggered to a 43-32 victory over the visiting Huskies on Friday.

"There is no doubt that Crawford was a difference-maker once again," North coach Mark Lindo said. "It seems like I've said that a few times in postgame interviews about him."

Crawford's importance shined through at a critical juncture early in the fourth quarter. Crawford was saddled with his fourth foul with 1 minute, 32 seconds remaining in the period, which earned him a seat on the Redhawks bench with Central securing a 33-23 advantage.

The Huskies slapped on full-court pressure, which gave Redhawks (8-1, 3-0 DuPage Valley Conference) fits, and helped produce turnovers that led to baskets from Arnas Gintautas (10 points) and Matt Hasse to pull the visitors within 33-29 with 6:40 left in the game.

At that point, Central coach Pete Kramer had held out as long as he could and wasn't about to watch the Redhawks' fourth-quarter advantage slip away, so he sent Crawford back into the game.

Crawford entered, and on the ensuing Huskies possession he came up with a loose ball on a Hasse turnover. On the other end, the Redhawks converted it into a 3-pointer by Dave Mallett to increase their advantage to 36-29.

North (4-4, 0-3) would get no closer than five points the rest of the way.

"It was not easy," said Crawford, who practiced once this past week. "I've had the flu all week, and I'm not feeling great. Coach gave me a lot of rest and did a great job with limiting my playing time."

Kramer said it was a no-brainer on whether to bring Crawford back into the game.

"I tell you what, he hit some big shots and we are a different team when he's not on the floor," Kramer said. "Every facet (of our game is impacted by Crawford) - our defense has a lot to do with him and our offense has a lot to do with him."

Lindo agreed.

"He came back in and he changed the entire complexion of the way his team plays when he is on the floor," Lindo said. "He's a special player, and he's one of the best of players they've had. To me, he is so reminiscent of Anthony Parker, who was pretty scary."

The Huskies had ample opportunities to nudge closer, but North faltered. They committed seven turnovers in the final quarter, made 12 of 24 free throws and shot 9-for-42 from the floor.

Central wasn't much better, connecting on seven of 16 free throws, including misses on three consecutive one-and-one bonus opportunities late in the game.

"I just knew this game was going to be ugly," Kramer said. "It was going to be physical. It was a game we felt that we should win, but when you play your rival you never know what is going to happen. A lot of times in this game the best team doesn't win. We have a Crawford and they don't have a player like Crawford, and that was the difference."