Week after week, Downers Grove North basketball coach Walt Matune told his players the string of close losses would end. Game after game, he was wrong.
The Trojans may have hit bottom Jan. 17 and 18, when they lost 62-61 to Hinsdale Central and 67-65 to York. Those were the fourth and fifth games they had lost by two points or fewer.
”I just told the kids not to give up, that some good things were going to happen to us,” Matune said. ”But I just got the feeling that mentally it definitely bothered them. When they were losing those close games, it had to dwell on their minds.”
The next week, Downers Grove North lost 55-54 to Proviso East and 51-47 to Joliet Catholic.
”They doubted whether they could win the close games,” Matune said.
”When they had a lead near the end of a game, they`d be wondering, `What`s going to happen here?` ”
That all changed Friday when Downers Grove North (5-13, 2-7) upset West Suburban Conference leader Lyons Township (12-7, 8-1) 71-70 in double overtime. Sophomore Mike Burge hit three of four free throws in the last 30 seconds to earn the Trojans the victory.
Mike Purkey, a 6-foot-4-inch junior center, led Downers North with 19 points. Jeff Stone, a junior guard, had 18 points and Burge added 15.
”We`re 5-13, and with any kind of luck we could be 13-5,” Matune said. ”I think people were thinking that because Downers North is 4-13 we`re supposed to lay down and let people kill us. I told the kids if we beat La Grange, I wouldn`t really consider it an upset.
”We`re looking right now to play the spoiler in the conference and to gain confidence and momentum going into the regional. Our record, without a doubt, is not indicative of how well we`ve played.”
Downers Grove North, which won its last West Suburban title in 1968-69 and its last regional in 1972, is seeded behind the host school in the Downers Grove South regional.
Private School League–When Wheaton Christian joined the Private School League last season, Ned Gulbransen had a feeling his team wasn`t being taken seriously. Wheaton Christian took third place in the league.
”I think we caught a lot of people by surprise,” Gulbransen said.
” `Wheaton Christian plays in that old barn in West Chicago. They can`t be any good.` ”
This year, everyone`s taking Wheaton Christian seriously. The Warriors are right in the thick of the title chase after they edged Nazareth Academy 66-64 Friday at home. Wheaton (14-6, 7-4) is tied for third with Aurora Central (7-4), a game behind Nazareth (8-3) and Chicago Christian (8-3).
Wheaton Christian has a game left with Chicago Christian. Nazareth must play Aurora Central.
”We looked at this game as kind of a championship game for us,”
Gulbransen said, ”because we knew if we didn`t win, we wouldn`t even have an outside chance for second or to come in the back door and tie for first.”
Chuck Steinhaus led Wheaton with 24 points. Jeff Papendick added 16 points, Todd Beamer 11 and Matt Elliott 10. Elliott also had 16 rebounds.
”It`s been a lot tougher this year,” Gulbransen said. ”This year, no doubt, people are more prepared for us.”
Wheaton Christian was a charter member of the Private School League, but dropped out of the league in 1974.
The Warriors are rated second behind Aurora Central in the Class A Geneva regional.
Du Page Valley–Wheaton North last won the Du Page Valley Conference championship in 1979-80. The Falcons took a big step toward winning it again by defeating Wheaton Central 44-43 Friday at home. Then they took a step backward by losing to Glenbard North 57-44 Saturday in Carol Stream.
”We`re kind of in a league that has had some funny things happen,”
said Wheaton North coach Jim Hedrick.
The weekend`s results left Wheaton North (13-6, 8-2) with a slim lead over Glenbard North (13-7, 7-3) and Naperville North (14-5, 6-3). Glenbard North, which defeated Naperville Central 63-54 Friday in Naperville, has won or shared the league title the last three years.
”It`s still open for anyone to win, but I like to think we`re in a good position,” Hedrick said.
Wheaton North`s workhorse has been Kent Graham, the only returning starter from last year. Graham, a 6-5 junior swingman, had 21 points Friday against Wheaton Central and 22 Saturday against Glenbard North. He is averaging almost 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists a game, and he leads the Falcons in all three categories.
Upstate Eight–West Aurora coach Gordon Kerkman has given up trying to explain his team`s performances.
Friday night, Kerkman`s Blackhawks won their 10th straight, beating Larkin 70-49 behind Corwin Hunt`s 28 points. West Aurora began the season 0-6. Why the turnaround?
”Good question,” Kerkman said Saturday before his team played St. Charles in a first-place showdown in Aurora. ”I don`t know if I really have an answer.”
Kerkman was even more perplexed by his team`s collapse that evening against St. Charles (18-2, 8-1), which won 58-53 to snap a two-game losing streak. West Aurora (11-8, 6-3) fell two games off the pace and is tied with Elgin and Larkin for second. The Blackhawks hit only 33 percent of their shots from the floor and connected on only 11 of 25 free throws.
St. Charles, which was upset by De Kalb 70-60 Friday, was led Saturday by Brian Rogers` 21 points. Brad Page had 21 for West Aurora.
”We were extremely flat, which is hard to understand, especially in game of this stature,” Kerkman said. ”But we were. These are the kinds of games you`re supposed to be up for.
”Whenever you play for an opportunity for first place and lose, it`s a setback. I just can`t say how big it is.”
Kerkman believes the title race isn`t over yet.
”I think St. Charles will get beat two more times,” Kerkman said.
”I`m just not sure whether we can avoid being beaten again.”
Metro Prep–Igal Litovsky scored 46 points, and Howard Shapiro provided the winning points with a pair of free throws Sunday as Ida Crown beat Cathedral 73-71.
Shapiro finished with 11 points. Bill Walton was high scorer for Cathedral, which trailed 37-34 at halftime, with 31 points.
