Noah Ferrell has developed into a no-nonsense player for Benet.
The 6-foot-7 junior forward comes off the bench and offers an inside presence the Redwings have been putting to good use.
“I just go out there and look to play our game,” Ferrell said. “I just do what I have to do. I do my job.”
Ferrell did exactly what Benet needed Friday night against Carmel. He had seven points and eight rebounds as the Redwings gutted out a 40-36 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory.
Two of Ferrell’s three baskets came off offensive rebounds as he did his best to boost Benet (23-4, 8-1). One led to a 3-point play with 7:15 left in the second quarter. He also scored on a putback with 3:32 left in the third.
“My mindset is just to always be ready,” he said. “And when I’m sitting on the bench, I’m paying attention to everybody, like who I have to guard, what I have to do.
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“Hard-nosed basketball, crashing offensive rebounds, boxing out. Hustle plays like coach teaches us. I provide what I need to do off the bench.”
Much like Ferrell, Benet had to scrap and claw for its 14th straight win as the young and talented Corsairs (17-11, 4-5) put up a fight.
Senior forward David Buh scored a game-high 12 points for the Redwings — their only player in double figures.
Buh’s last basket came with 6:23 left in the game. It was part of a 10-0 run as the Redwings turned a 25-22 deficit in the third quarter into a 32-25 lead early in the fourth.
“We just tried to stick with the course and keep playing and battling throughout the game,” Buh said. “And I think it really helped in the second half to keep sticking in on defense. Eventually we were able to put enough stops together.”
Benet trailed throughout and didn’t grab its first lead until Will Engels’ 3-point play off an offensive rebound with 7:17 left in the fourth.
Sophomore center Colin Crothers scored the game’s last two field goals as the Redwings kept Carmel scoreless from the field for the last 3:53.
“We won the game defensively in the last minute and a half,” Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. “We had multiple opportunities to close it out and give ourselves some cushion. We couldn’t convert from the free-throw line.
“But I told the guys after the game they kept guarding. They kept defending and that was the difference in the game. Even though we couldn’t capitalize, they couldn’t score either.”
Blake Baumgartner is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.