DGN Boys Lose Heartbreaker to Glenbard West

That collective groan you might have heard echoing from the Downers North High School gymnasium around 9 p.m. Friday was the result of a shot just before the game-ending buzzer by the Trojans’ Tom Wengren.

Wengren’s 35-footer right in front of the Trojan bench appeared as if it was about to fall in. But the ball spun around the rim for a couple of agonizing seconds, and then popped out. What should have been a thrilling 48-47 victory for the Trojans turned into a frustrating 47-46 defeat.

North arguably could have put the game away with 12.9 seconds to go, but it missed the front end of a one-and-one at the free throw line. The Hilltoppers capitalized when sophomore Jeff Levesque—with two North defenders about to double-team him—found a wide open Egan Montgomery underneath for an easy layup that made it 47-46.

North looked as if it was starting to pull away with 1:15 left in the third quarter when Ross Johnson drove in for a layup off a Glenbard West turnover to give the Trojans a 38-31 lead.

But a free throw from Michael Mache and Levesque’s basket cut the Trojan’s lead to 38-34 by the end of the quarter.

Montgomery’s three 25 seconds into the fourth quarter made it 38-37. At 6:10 of the fourth quarter, the Hilltoppers grabbed their first lead of the game since early in the first quarter, 39-38 on senior Evan Fischi’s drive.

The Trojans, though, rattled off six unanswered points—capped by Rob Mahlke’s layup—and regained a 44-39 advantage.

However, Levesque sliced his way through North’s defense on the Hilltoppers’ next two possessions, trimming the Trojans’ lead to 44-43.

Wengren, who finished with 11 points, took it to the hole with under a minute left, and the Trojans led 46-43. The Trojans maintained that cushion until Michael Mache stepped to the line after drawing a foul and sank two free throws with 16.1 seconds to go, setting the stage for the game’s dramatic final moments.

Johnson led the Trojans with 12 points, and Tyler Mason came off the bench to grab six rebounds and block two shot. Alex Vogler and DJ Cieniawa chipped in with eight and seven points, respectively.

The Trojans (7-9), who are still seeking their first conference victory (they’re 0-4 in the WSS), resumed play Saturday at their own Winter Classic with a 5 p.m. tipoff against Wheaton North.

Glenbard West 47, Downers North 46

Glenbard West—Ma. Mache 1 0-0 2, Lowery 2 2-2 6, Mi. Mache 5 10-12 20, Levesque 4 2-6 10, Taylor 0 0-0 0, Montgomery 2 0-0 5, Mazza 0 0-0 0, Fischi 1 0-0 2, Elliott 1 0-0 2, Loftus 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 14-20 47.

Downers North—Johnson 6 0-1 12, Wengren 5 0-0 11, Mahlke 1 3-4 5, Vogler 3 0-0 8, Mason 1 0-0 2, Sigerich 0 0-0 0, Grace 0 1-2 1, Schneeweis 0 0-0 0, Cieniawa 3 1-2 7. Totals 19 5-10 46.

Score by quarters

Glenbard West      5    17   12   13—47

Downers North     11   13   14    8—46

Three-point baskets: Glenbard West 1 (Montgomery), Downers North 3 (Wengren, Vogler 2), Total fouls: Glenbard West 12, Downers North 19. Turnovers: Glenbard West 15, Downers North 17.