Dukan leads Deerfield over Vernon Hills
By Drake Skleba
Deerfield (9-1) used a 17-6 fourth quarter to roll past a scrappy Vernon Hills club for a 60-54 quarterfinal win Tuesday.
Deerfield was led by 6-foot-8 senior F Duje Dukan, who scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Senior G Oren Schwartz added 17 points, six in the crucial fourth-quarter run.
"I was able to post up and nail my shots," said Dukan. "We really played well in the fourth quarter to get the win. We ran our offense well down the stretch. Poise and composure were the keys to our victory."
Vernon Hills (8-3) was led by its sensational junior G DeVaris Daniels, who scored 26 points.
Vernon Hills led after the first half 34-31 paced by 15 Daniels' points.
With 1:50 left in the third quarter Vernon Hills led 48-43 on two free throws by 6-foot-5 junior C Brian Berzanski (four points, three 3 rebounds).
The Cougars did not score over the next 7:05.
With 5:12 left in the game Dukan hit a long trey to give the Warriors a 49-48 lead.
Deerfield stretched the lead to 56-48 with 2:50 left.
Vernon Hills would not quit. With 53 seconds left, senior G Chris Morgan (10 points) fired in a three-pointer and the never-say-die Cougars were back within two at 56-54.
Deerfield's senior F Adam Rhum scored his only two points of the game with 20 seconds left. The cool senior calmly sank two free throws to ice another Warrior victory.
Deerfield recieved a tremendous floor game from 6-foot-3 senior G David Panter. He only scored two points, but had five assists and five steals.
