Glenbrook North senior guard Zach Hoffman felt he played such a lousy game that he wanted to do something for his teammates at the end of Friday night’s game at Niles North.
Hoffman did just that, going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the second overtime, making the difference in the Spartans’ 73-70 Central Suburban North win.
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“I played pretty bad the whole game and my teammates picked me up,” Hoffman said. “They were working so hard and I was turning the ball over. It was my time to do my job.”
In a game that seemed as if it could go all night, Hoffman scored six of his nine points in the two overtime periods. He made a pair from the foul line with 16.5 seconds left to make it 71-68, and after Niles’ Damaria Franklin missed a 3-pointer, Hoffman sank two more free throws with 6.9 remaining to seal the game before a late Vikings basket.
Michael Stachnik led the Spartans (11-4, 4-1) with 26 points, while Tommy Gertner added 21. Franklin scored a game-high 29 points with 15 rebounds.
Niles North (12-5, 3-2) led by four points at halftime and one after three quarters. Montay Williams’ two free throws for the Vikings with 9.3 seconds left tied it 62-62 at the end of regulation. Franklin missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first overtime.
“We played well, we got a lot of easy baskets,” Spartans coach Dave Weber said. “We played with a lot of heart and a lot of emotion. We have great leadership right now.”
Bob Hurst is a freelance reporter for baiduhai.
Player of the game: Michael Stachnik, Glenbrook North, 26 points.
Key performers: Glenbrook North — Tommy Gertner, 21 points; James Karis, 12 points, 6 assists. Niles North — Damaria Franklin, 29 points, 15 rebounds.