The Nick and Nick Show delivered from 3-point range for York’s boys basketball team Wednesday, Dec. 30, in the semifinals of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic.
Junior Nick Trapani and freshman Nick Kosich each made three 3-pointers as the Dukes stunned West Suburban Gold-leading Downers Grove South 78-47 in the 42nd annual tournament. York (9-3) made 9-of-21 3-pointers and leading scorer Trapani had back-to-back threes early in the third quarter that put the hosts on the road to victory.
York returned to the tournament championship for the first time since beating Conant in 2012 and will play Naperville North (9-2) in the final at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31.
The Dukes had five players score in double figures against Downers South (9-4), led by reserves Kosich and Jordan Gray (seven rebounds) with 13 points each. Patrick Grabowski (game-high nine rebounds) had 12 points, Trapani had 11 and Jack Morrissey added 10.
Kosich shot 3 for 5 threes while Trapani shot 3 for 7 from 3-point range. Trapani is left-handed and isn’t afraid to shoot from the baseline while the right-handed Kosich launched more of his threes from the wing.
Trapani’s last two threes came in the first three minutes after halftime to give York a 45-22 lead. The two baskets were part of an 11-point Dukes run to start the third quarter. Morrissey opened the second half with his second three.
“I’ve been practicing shooting since I was a toddler,” Trapani said. “I practice shooting every single day. That helps me a lot and I can help my teammates.”
Trapani, who practices his 3-point shooting at every practice, said his favorite drill is called “Xavier” where he must make two 3-pointers in a row from different spots around the floor while being timed.
“You need the repetition. Shooting is fun,” Trapani said. “You have to be focused in there. You can’t think about the crowd. You can’t have distractions.”
“We have a number of guys capable of knocking down a three,” York coach Vince Doran said. “They shoot with a lot of confidence. Those kids put in the time. They are always in the gym shooting.”
York had four different players with 3-pointers, including the 6-foot-5 Grabowski, whose 3-pointer opened the second quarter.
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