TF North hangs on to defeat New Trier
By Drake Skleba
Thornton Fractional North (7-3) survived a nightmare of a fourth quarter to survive New Trier 52-48 Tuesday at Proviso West and advance to the consolation championship versus Hillcrest (14-1) Wednesday.
The Meteors showered miss after miss off the backboard and rim in the fourth quarter while trying to protect a 31-21 fourth quarter lead.
TF North missed 13 of its 22 fourth-quarter free throws and finished a poor 14-for-33 from the line.
In a game with 46 turnovers and 42 personal fouls, the basketball purist in the small crowd was left running for cover.
TF North led 18-15 at the half. North's 6-foot-4 junior F Devonte Grant (10 points) led a 13-6 third-quarter outburst that seemingly put this game away.
New Trier (9-3) rallied behind senior Alex Rossi (16 points) and 6-foot-9 senior C Fred Heldring (16 points). The Trevians closed to 48-45 on two Heldring free throws with 0:52 left.
TF North's senior Jamel Hill (four points) and junior DeAndre Lowery (12 points) nailed four consecutive freebies and salted away the win.
Six-foot-6 senior Sean Montgomery scored 12 points and hauled in nine boards for the winners.
North's foe Hillcrest defeated Morton 74-61. The Hawks (14-1) were led by 6-foot-5 senior Eric Gaines, who poured in 27 points.
