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THE BUGLE FEBRUARY 7, 2013
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www.buglenewspapers.com/basketball
McNellis three sends South past North By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter
As in any cross-town rivalry, records and rosters can be thrown out,strategies put on hold,because when teams and players know each other as well as the Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South players do – the game is going to be a dogfight. And that held true Saturday night as South, who had been down all game, won 42-39 on a Scott McNellis NBA range threepointer at the buzzer. “I am proud of the whole atmosphere,” said Downers Grove South coach Jay Baum, who was presented a plaque before the game. Baum is retiring after the school year. “Their coaches did a great job and we are all friends and the kids all played travel basketball together and they know each other. They are a good team and we are a good team, we are both probably a little better than our records. Hats off to the whole community for coming out. It was a great basketball game. It was a fantastic program win.” While North led most of the game, the Mustangs made a push late and took a two-point lead on a Danny Spinuzza threepointer that was erased on a pair of Myles Farley free throws with 1:38 left in the game. Following the foul shots, Baum decided to play for the last shot. “I trust Danny unequivocally to make good decisions and find the right guy,” Baum said. “The reason I didn’t call timeout is that I didn’t want them to change their defense.” Spinuzza ended up with the ball inside 15 seconds to play and looked for a shot. “Danny gave me a really good pass,”said McNellis. who buried his shot from well beyond the 3-point line.“Danny gave it to me right at the top of the key and right in my (shooting) pocket. I was looking for the high-w, so I was looking for Robert (Mara) cutting to the hoop, but it wasn’t there.” So McNellis popped the shot from the right wing and set off bedlam as South’s sizable student
Mark Gregory/Bugle Staff
Danny Spinuzza and Downers South edged Downers North 42-39.
section stormed the court. “It’s a good way to finish off my career against Downers North. “He gave it to me right at the top of the key right in my pocket and it was easy from there. We were looking for the high low with Rob (Mara) coming up, but there was less time than we thought, so I put it up and you know the story from there.” The story was a sea of blueclad Mustang students swarmed the court and piled on the game’s hero. “It was a good way to finish my career against North as a senior,” McNellis said. “It was good to celebrate with all my teammates and having a lot of fans there. It was a really fun game. I was right in the middle of that big pile. I wish I could have got some of
my teammates in there, and they tried, there was just no getting through that big wall.” McNellis led the Mustangs
with 12 points, while Spinuzza added eight and Mara chipped in seven. Nick Norton paced the Trojans
with a game-high 13 points. Deivis Skirgaila and Garret Tierney added six points each. mark@buglenewspapers.com
PLAYER OF THE WEEK Nominees Scott McNellis, Downers South Game-winning 3-pointer
Last week’s results Marcus Fair Plainfield North
Matt Mooney Notre Dame
Carl Terrell Joliet West
Nicole Ekohmu JCA
Aaron Jordan, Plainfield East 17 pts, game-winning ft vs. PC Jasmine Lumpkin, JCA 24 points, 17 rebs vs. Mac Abby Smith, Romeoville 11 pts, 8 rebs, 8 assists vs. PN Go to buglenewspapers.com to vote for your winner!
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