After finishing the first half of its SouthWest Suburban Blue schedule with a perfect 7-0 record, Bolingbrook was a big target to start the second half of the conference season.
Joliet Central took aim Tuesday night, rallied from a six-point deficit with less than two minutes to play and handed the Raiders their first conference loss, 57-54 in Joliet.
Bolingbrook had defeated Joliet Central twice this season, including a 91-62 pasting in the McDipper Tournament.
“The previous times we thought we were ready, but we weren’t,’’ Joliet Central senior forward Jarvis Northington said. “I told my team ‘We’re not going to talk about what we can do. Let’s go out and do this.’’’
Northington provided what proved to be the winning points–two free throws to put Central ahead 55-54 with 37 seconds to play.
Northington was fouled in a scramble when he rebounded a missed free throw by Jonah Coble, who’s putback had cut Bolingbrook’s lead to 54-53.
“I was a little bit nervous, but Jonah Coble told me ‘I need you to hit these free throws for me’ since he missed his,’’ Northington said. “I said ‘I got you.’’’
Coble led Joliet Central (13-7, 5-3) with 20 points while Northington finished with 12, six in the crucial fourth quarter.
Forward Antonio Dyson contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds and a huge steal with 14 seconds to play. He stole the ball from Bolingbrook star Prentiss Nixon near midcourt, was fouled and made both free throws with nine seconds left.
“The play before that he (Nixon) got past me,’’ Dyson said. “He tried to do the same thing. I forced him one way and retreated back to the other side. He crossed over, and it was in my hand.
“I was going to go dunk it, but I saw we still had a lot of time left. I knew they had to foul because we were up.’’
“The struggles that we’ve had the last couple weeks, this is definitely what we needed,’’ Joliet Central coach Jeff Corcoran said. “These kids have made a commitment the last week or so, having their own meetings, talking in the locker room, staying after practice.’’
Gage Davis had a team-high 20 points for Bolingbrook (14-4, 7-1). Nixon was held to 11 points.
Davis had back-to-back layups to give Bolingbrook a 54-48 lead with 1:55 to play, but the Raiders didn’t score again.
“We just got at it on defense,’’ Dyson said. “We knew our defense was going to lead to our offense. That’s what we used all night.’’
Bolingbrook missed on a three-point attempt in the final seconds.
“We didn’t execute like we have been,’’ Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said. “A lot of missed opportunities. Turned the ball over too much, missed too many free throws.’’
