Council Rock North basketball takes both ends of double-header (GALLERY)
NORTHAMPTON – Whoever schedules local scholastic basketball games certainly knows their stuff. They started the new year off with a thrill-packed doubleheader featuring crosstown rivals Council Rock North and South.
Will Desautelle, four-year varsity performer for the Rock, has experienced the importance of this match-up. “This is such a big game. We know all the South kids. We’ve all grown up playing together through AAU and have seen each other around. It makes the game that much more exciting. You want to prove you’re the best team in the district. We always give each other our best game.”
Going into the nightcap of the twin bill, North coach Derek Wright designed a definite game plan to thwart the talented Golden Hawk shooters. “Coach Wright said we wanted to do two things. First, we wanted to pressure them on the perimeter and make them uncomfortable because individually, they are really skilled. We wanted to keep them out of their comfort zone because they’re good players and are going to make plays.”
The Indian brain-trust took particular aim at South’s two guards Alex Nordenholt and Austin Thomas. “We wanted to keep Nordenholt and Thomas under 20 points. I think they finished with 23. Nordenholt didn’t score much but Thomas had a good game. A lot of his points came when we didn’t convert back on defense.”
The first half set the tone in what would prove a nail-biting affair. The two teams battled to a 12-12 tie after one quarter of play. The Golden Hawks managed to seize a slight one-point advantage by the halftime.
Then, the unforeseen happened. During the halftime mid-court shooting contest, one of the nets became torn, necessitating a 30-minute delay for repairs. The interruption did prove somewhat unnerving. As Will recalls, “No doubt it was frustrating for all of us. We came out ready for the second half and set to make our adjustments and then had to wait. In the second half, several of us cramped up. We really couldn’t get warmed up enough.”
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Will was determined not to allow the interruption to hinder the Indians’ attack. As a senior tri-captain, he knew his part. “As you get older and have more experience in the program, your leadership role steps up. You have to be a lot more vocal, especially with the young guys. They feed off of you. At times, you have to carry the team a bit, whatever that takes. You have to score a bit more or get others more involved.”
Will did both as North started the second half with a 7-0 run. Will ignited the streak with a hook shot from the top of the key. Classmate Riley Thompson followed with a three-pointer. Matt Baniewicz added two more when he scored inside off a pass from Desautelle.
The 31-25 lead did not hold as 6-6 CR South junior Ryan Boyd came off the Golden Hawk bench to net a game high 20 points. With a minute left in the third quarter, Austin Thomas nailed a trey to put the Hawks back on top, 36-35.
A furious fourth quarter saw several lead changes. With South clinging to a precarious one-point lead and only a minute and a half left in regulation play, North needed an answer. It came in the form of six straight free throws by Eric Levine, Riley Thompson and Will Desautelle.
Will well remembers the prevailing tension. “That’s a tough situation. I was struggling from the line earlier in the game, which is something I don’t normally do. I figured I can’t dwell on the misses. I thought these are the two most important shots of the game. If I make these, the game is probably over.”
Will’s evaluation proved prophetic. The Indians had to stave off some last-minute heroics by South’s Mike Stock. The 6-2 senior nailed two three pointers, the second of which moved the home team to within a point when the final buzzer sounded.
Will and his teammates were grateful for the 60-59 victory and ended a two-game losing streak.. “That’s probably the most exciting win of the year, especially against a good team like South. It’s great to come out and get a win, especially on the road.”
The Lady Indians undoubtedly felt a similar relief after their high-energy 43-35 win in the opening game of the night. After the game, North head coach Lou Palkovics summed up the action. “You can throw out the records when North and South play It’s always a battle.”
The showdown was more of a war with the winner taking hold of second place in the highly competitive Suburban One League (SOL) National Division. For three quarters, the two teams scraped, hustled and fought their way through several lead changes. A three-pointer by South’s Payton Spadaccino gave the Hawks a 26-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The lead would not last long as the Indians’ Becca Margolis and Dana Bandurick took control and orchestrated an 11-point run. Margolis started the fireworks, hitting from beyond the arc. Bandurick then battled underneath, scoring on a layup, a rebound put-back and a quick shot off an inbounds pass.
Though Council Rock North could walk away from both games claiming bragging rights, the real winners were the many fans who saw an evening of spirited and exciting basketball.
