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Saints beat St. Charles North 44-40, sweep season series
ST. CHARLES – It's almost unheard of for St. Charles East forward Cody Mitchell to be held scoreless until five minutes in the third quarter.
Mitchell just had a career 20-20 game against West Aurora two weeks ago. But the 6-foot-6 forward missed his first eight shots of the night on Friday.
Whether viewed through the lens of gritty team defense by St. Charles North or the Saints/ pressing a bit much on the offense end – 12 turnovers on the night – each holds legitimate merit.
"I think I was just kind in my own head to start there," Mitchell said following St. Charles East's 44-40 victory over St. Charles North. "My defense kept me in the game."
Coupled with the Saints' 49-45 win back on Dec. 21, East swept the crosstown series in two close games.
In an equally frustrating first half for both teams – 6-of-23 each from the field – defensive stops were thrust into the spotlight for teams accustomed to a more balanced offensive output. The Saints held on to a slim 16-13 lead going into the third quarter.
"We knew that if we were going to lose this game, we were going to beat ourselves," said Mitchell, who finished with eight points and five rebounds. "In the second half...just have confidence in your craft. I think we did that."
Nate Ortiz, who scored 19 points in the first matchup, connected on his only three-point attempt of the third quarter to lift the Saints (15-12, 6-5) to an eight-point lead with a minute remaining in the quarter.
The North Stars, though, refused to go quietly.
Connor Linke hit a layup, Christian Czerniak followed a steal with a bucket and Lucas Heflen connected on a three-point play to inch within one with 30 seconds left in the third.
Late possession rebounds, defensive stops and pure will had to triumph for either team to close a tight matchup down the stretch.
The Saints, ultimately, won that coin flip.
The North Stars (9-14, 3-8) again pulled within one point three times in the fourth quarter. From the free throw line, Mitchell and Ortiz, along with Mark Musial, did just enough to keep St. Charles North at bay.
Heflen (10 points, seven rebounds, two assists) missed a tough runner with 12 seconds left and Luke Scheffers missed a pair of free throws.
The North Stars finished 10-of-22 in the second half. The Saints, 8-of-22.
"I think this is more of a lesson than it is a confidence builder," said Ortiz, who finished with 12 points and three rebounds. "Knowing that, as bad as we played offensively, how well we played defensively still won us the game. It's not always offense that's going to win you games, but defense."
"It also proves if we want to win, and win with a statement, we have to be better offensively," Ortiz continued. "We have to be better in practice. We're not valuing our offensive possessions as much. I think that really comes with the reps that we have."
Musial provided plenty of offensive pop, adding 14 points and six rebounds.
For the North Stars, Linke finished with 10 rebounds to go with seven points. Thomas Kellen added noticeable defensive energy, pulling down four rebounds alongside five points.
"This group can win a regional," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "People might laugh at me, but this group is good enough to win a regional. We have the pieces; we've got to just be locked in mentally for 32 minutes."
St. Charles East fans storm the court to celebrate the victory over St. Charles North on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.
St. Charles East's Luke Matheny goes in for the shot over St. Charles North's Christian Czerniak on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.
St. Charles East's Cody Mitchell shoots jumper against St. Charles North on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.
St. Charles North's Lucas Heflen goes in for the layup against St. Charles East's Jake Champine on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.
St. Charles North bench celebrates a big basket against St. Charles East on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.
St. Charles East's Jake Champine drives the basket against St. Charles North on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.
St. Charles East's Aidan Sullivan splits the defense by St. Charles North on Feb. 8th in St. Charles.