NNHS boys varsity basketball loses conference opener

By Sports Editor Jay Ahuja
Production by Photographer Juan Jara

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Coming off a three-game win streak thanks to dominant defense, the Huskies allowed Glenbard North (4-1, 2-0 Dupage Valley Conference) to hit ten 3-pointers to win the game, 84-76. NNHS junior Baylor Griffin, who scored 17 points to lead the team, was confused by the Huskie defense’s lackluster performance.

“We played great defense in the previous three games, but I don’t know what happened tonight. We just didn’t come out with the same energy or something, but tomorrow in practice we will look at the film and work our tails off so this doesn’t happen again,” Griffin said.

GBN senior Jeremiah Flemming, started the havoc for the Huskies’ defense. Flemming caught fire on the Panthers’ opening possesion and never let up. The 6’3” guard hit a total of seven shots behind the arch, five in the second half and finished with 28 points, a season high. The leading scorer for the Panthers, senior Chip Flanigan, converted on 8 of 13 shots, ending the game with 29 points.

NNHS (3-2, 0-1 DVC) went into the fourth quarter down by 11 after shooting poorly all through out the third. The Huskies inched at the deficit during the final period thanks to the play by junior Chris Gajcak. After seeing limited playing time in the first four games, NNHS head coach Jeff Powers went with a different strategy and started the 6’2” guard to open the forth. Gajcak came out on fire, hitting 3 of 4 from deep and keeping the Huskies’ within 10.

With two minutes left in game, Gajcak hit two consecutive three pointers and narrowed the lead to five. The Panthers took a time-out to give the starters some rest and come up with a new game plan. Flanigan came out of the break and immediately drove the lane, drawing a foul earning two free throws. Flanigan knocked down both shots, and on the Huskies’ next possession, NNHS senior Anthony Rehayem chucked up a three coming off a pick. It bounced off the side of the rim, a Panther recovered the rebound, and NNHS began fouling to stop the clock. Even after some GBN players missed their free throws, the Huskies couldn’t convert on the other end.

The Huskies scored the first points to begin the game, but GBN went on a 7-0 run and NNHS never regained the lead again. NNHS senior Ashton Elston started the game in place of injured point guard Jayson Winick. NNHS senior Nick Lemanski, who missed the first four games due to a sprained ankle, saw limited playing time. WIthout much energy on the court, NNHS struggled to gain any momentum in the first half.

“It was tough to remain positive, but we had to keep telling each other that we could still win this,” Gajcak said. “In the first half, we lacked the energy that we had in the second half.”

During the 2nd quarter, NNHS sophomore Jelani McClain stepped up, scoring 8 points and grabbing four rebounds, but Flemming hit two threes. HE scored a buzzer beater layup, and the Panthers went into the half leading 43-30.