McMath, PFN stagger Waukegan

PONTIAC -- R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Chris McMath converted a layup and a pressure free throw with no time remaining as Plainfield North High School shocked top-seeded Waukegan with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 62-61 win in quarterfinal action at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Tuesday.

"I wasn't nervous at all," McMath said of his game-winning free throw. "I knew that there was nothing to lose; at the very least, the game would go into overtime."

No need for overtime.

Like every youngster who ever shoots a basketball in the backyard and makes the game- winning free throw as the crowd erupts, McMath's game-winner was nothing but net.

"Definitely, that was what everyone dreams of, making that shot," he said. "We want to prove to everyone that we deserve to play in the championship game."

While the win over previously unbeaten Waukegan (9-1) brings the Tigers (12-1) a step closer to the championship game, another slow start nearly cost them. As has become a habit, North had trouble getting out of the gate.

The Tigers had 3 turnovers and a missed shot in the first 1:44 of the game, and the Bulldogs took full advantage.

Colin Nickerson scored a rebound basket before Quan Conner connected on back-to-back 3-point shots. When University of Illinois-bound Jereme Richmond canned a 15 footer, Waukegan held a 10-0 lead with 5:56 to play in the first quarter.

Little did the Bulldogs know that North had them right where they wanted them.

As they have done so many times this season, the Tigers kept their composure, made the adjustments necessary and battled their way back into the game.

"We just wanted to stay close for three and a half quarters," Plainfield North coach Nick DiForti said. "We knew that if we could do that, we would be able to play with them the last four minutes."

After spotting the highly regarded Bulldogs the early double digit lead, North finally got on the board when Reggie Lemon drove the lane and was fouled for a three point play.

"The key was that we took it right at their guys," DiForti said. "We saw other teams be tentative, and we didn't want to back down.

"We maintained our composure and battled them. We have got one of the youngest programs in the state, but hopefully now our kids will get some respect."

The Tigers fell behind 29-14 before trimming the Bulldogs' advantage to 39-30 at halftime.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point as the Tigers showed everyone that they belonged. North converted on its first possession when Scott Vachon took a pass and took the ball to the basket on Richmond.

That was the first of seven layups that the Tigers would convert in the third quarter while outscoring the Bulldogs 21-10.

Kendall Frank's steal and uncontested layup with 1:09 to play in the quarter tied the game at 49-49 before a pair of Reggie Lemon free throws gave the Tigers their first lead of the game and a large dose of confidence.

North had taken its biggest lead of the game at 57-53 with 5:07 to play.

Richmond answered for Waukegan with a conventional 3-point play and Nickerson put his team ahead 58-57 with a layup off a nice feed from Richmond with 3:55 to play.

After North committed a turnover with 3:20 left, Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw elected to hold the ball. The Tigersh countered with a match-up zone defense for a brief period that caused some confusion for the Bulldogs.

"We played a match-up zone for a couple of possesions," DiForti said. "It didn't work yesterday, but it did today."

McMath connected on a jump shot with 35 seconds to play to put the Tigers back on top 59-58. Richmond countered with his own jumper at 0:22 to put Waukegan up 60-59. When Nickerson stripped the ball from Lemon at the 22-second mark, North was forced to foul.

Richmond increased the lead to just 61-59 when he failed to make both free throw attempts with :10.5 to go. McMath grabbed the rebound and North was poised for the upset.

Frank took the ball toward the basket and drove the baseline, only to have the ball knoed out of bounds with 1.7 seconds remaining.

DiForti then used a timeout to set up the game-winning play.

"We set up 'four across' and the first option was to go to Ryan Crow coming off the picks,' DiForti said. "We didn't know if they would switch, but the key was the first screen. After Crow came off of McMath's screen, we knew that we would have a man open."

While Crow continued through two more picks set by Mike Klett and Lemon, the Bulldogs defense followed. Frank then rifled an in-bound pass to McMath as he rolled to the basket. McMath converted the layup and was fouled by Conner as time expired.

With the score tied at 61 all, and no time showing on the clock, Waukegan attempted to call a timeout to ice McMath.

Even though a timeout cannot be called at that point, Ashlaw got the desired effect while asking the officials for an explanation as McMath waited at the line.

But just like it happens for every kid in his driveway, and just as McMath has visualized it a thousand times, the free throw was good, sending the crowd into a tizzy.

"This is the biggest win for our program, and it says something when you can compete with a top 10 team in the state," said DiForti.

While Richmond, who is considered by many to be the top junior in the state, and Nickerson provided a 1-2 punch that nearly took out the Tigers by combining for 40 points, North placed five players in double figures.

Lemon led the Tigers with 16 points and 5 assists. McMath had 13 points, Vachon 12, Crow 11 and Frank 10. North outrebounded Waukegan 21-11.

The Tiger resume play at 2:30 p.m. today, facing either Schaumburg or Peoria Manual.