After again finding his hot shooting hand, Lyons Township High School junior boys basketball guard Nate Woods made the defensive touch of the game Friday. With 6.2 seconds left, the Lions led Downers Grove North by one point but the Trojans were inbounding on their offensive sidelines for a potential game-winning shot.
“I was told not to let them get the ball in the corner, which is where they drew up the play for,” Woods said.
Woods deflected that inbounds pass to regain possession for the Lions in their 49-46 home victory over Downers Grove North to remain tied for first in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
Riding a nine-game winning streak, LTHS (20-6, 10-1 in Silver) will clinch at least a tie Tuesday with a victory at Hinsdale Central (11-17, 5-5). The Lions led 47-46 when the Trojans (18-12, 3-7) inbounded. As the pass went toward the near corner, Woods deflected the ball, which deflected off the intended DGN player’s hand out of bounds.
“They were not happy about it, but it was the right call. I saw it hit off the other guy,” Woods said.
Now the Lions’ ball, Timmy Sloan inbounded down court to Grant Smith, who was fouled and made two free throws. The Trojans missed a last-second three defended by Owen Carroll. Smith (18 points) and Woods and Tommy Blyth (10 points each) reached double figures. Sloan had six assists.
After a three put the Trojans ahead 46-44, Smith hit a free throw and Blyth scored off a screen-and-roll play with Sloan with 22.4 seconds left to put the Lions ahead to stay.
“Timmy made a good pass and I made a layup. Probably my biggest (basket this season),” Blyth said.
LTHS led 20-8 in the second quarter and 33-27 entering the fourth quarter. The Trojans scored on their first seven possessions of the fourth quarter in leading 43-39 with 2:47 left.
“Any win in the West Suburban Silver is a great win,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said. “We told the guys beforehand this was going to be a dogfight. I’m just glad we ended up making a couple of more plays at the end.”
The Lions then won 73-48 at Oak Park and River Forest Saturday behind huge games from Smith (32 points, 6 rebounds) and Woods (22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists). Silver co-leader York (26-4, 10-1) finished Tuesday with DGN. The Lions won their second meeting against York 56-49 Feb. 3 as Woods had 26 points behind a single-game, school-record eight threes.
Four LTHS players had made seven – Niklas Polonowski (2023), Jarryd Heath (2012), Tom Sitkowski (2004) and Peter Carroll (1998).
“I did know (the record). It was cool,” Woods said. “That was a big win for us. It was nice to get them back, going to their place.”
Girls basketball
Nazareth Academy (28-3), Lyons Township (19-9) and Riverside Brookfield (11-17) are the No. 1, 4 and 16 seeds in the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Sectional.
RBHS and Nazareth were scheduled to meet in the Hancock Regional semifinals Tuesday after the Bulldogs defeated No. 17 64-20 Saturday at home.
The regional final is Thursday, Feb. 19, against No. 8 Whitney Young or No. 9 Reavis.
LTHS played No. 13 Morton in Tuesday’s St. Ignatius Regional semifinals with the winner facing No. 5 St. Ignatius or No. 11 Argo Thursday.
These regional champions meet in the 6 p.m. sectional semifinal Feb. 24.
In their Upstate Eight Conference crossover matchup Feb. 10, RBHS defeated West Aurora 47-35 after beating Elmwood Park 55-23 Feb. 9 to finish 6-6 in the UEC East.