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Amid an increasingly memorable season, Lyons Township forward Dan Lalonde played a fourth quarter he’ll never forget during the Lions’ 57-52 win over Oak Park on Saturday.
Trailing the visiting Huskies 40-35 entering the final frame, the unflappable lefty post player scored all 13 of his points in the period to ignite the unbeaten Lions’ late-game rally. With LT (16-0, 6-0 West Suburban Silver) clinging to a 55-52 lead, Oak Park guard Jeff Stanciel-Wynn missed a three-pointer in the closing seconds. Lalonde recovered the game-tying attempt and raced down court for a two-handed dunk at the final buzzer. Celebrating their Blackout Night, a sea of LT fans stormed the court.
“This was the most fun I’ve had in basketball,” Lalonde said afterward. “It was great to see everyone I know, all my friends, people I’ve never seen before – just a huge crowd. I started being way more aggressive on the offensive end [in the fourth quarter].”
During a particularly critical stretch, Oak Park (14-4, 5-2) held a 48-43 lead with 4:15 remaining before Lalonde scored the next seven points to give LT the lead 50-48 with 2:10 left.
After the Huskies’ KaDarryl Bell split a pair of free throws to make it 50-49, Lalonde scored an inside basket (assisted by Nick Zeisloft) and LT point guard Jimmy Stamas added a free throw to make the score 53-49 with 38 seconds remaining.
On the next possession, Oak Park senior guard Antonio Foster banked in a three-pointer under heavy duress to cut LT’s lead to 53-52. But Zeisloft sank a pair of free throws for the Lions, making it 55-52 before Lalonde’s jam closed the riveting action.
Lalonde led LT with a game-high 13 points and six rebounds, while fellow starters Nick Burt (10 points, 4 rebounds) and Zeisloft (8 points) also played well. Junior guard Spencer Mahoney provided a huge lift off the LT bench, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Along with clutch free-throw shooting and stifling defense in the fourth quarter, Mahoney credited another factor as instrumental in the Lions’ comeback victory.
“Our crowd was unbelievable,” he said. “Our fans really did help us get back in the game, and they sealed the win for us going nuts in the last couple of minutes.”
Mortell Flowers (9 points), Jeff Dirkin (7 points, 8 rebounds) paced the Huskies’ attack, while Aaron Levin and Antonio Foster chipped in eight points apiece.
There was no letdown for the Lions following their huge victory as LT rolled to a 59-42 win over Hinsdale Central on Saturday. With Lalonde out sick, Austin Lusson led the Lions’ customary balanced attack with 12 points. Justin Phipps and Burt scored 11 apiece and Zeisloft added 10.
“Our coach [Tom Sloan] gives us great advice about focusing one game at a time,” Lusson said. “This year has been so much fun, but we’re also not going to get ahead of ourselves.”
