Undermanned Spartans Fall in Overtime

Despite battling injuries and the flu throughout last week, the Glenbrook North Spartans stayed competitive on the road Saturday night but eventually fell to the Conant Cougars, 48-45, in overtime in Hoffman Estates. Spartans starting shooting guard Tommy Hanrahan missed his second straight game due to illness and three other Spartans, including backup point guard Ethan Schmidt, didn't even make the trip.

Sophomore , who also missed practice time during the week (sprained left wrist), led the Spartans with 18 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

"I thought we fought and we had a chance to win and that's what we wanted to have in this game," said Spartans head coach Dave Weber. "They're a good team, and we're a good team too. We just have to get healthy. That's the bottom line."

Conant (17-6) ran out to an early 5-0 lead to start the game but the Spartans' answered with a 6-0 run of their own and from that point on, the entire contest was played within a five-point window. After leading 22-21 at halftime, the Spartans quickly fell behind in the third and did not regain an advantage until sophomore Kurt Karis (10 points) scored back-to-back buckets for GBN, which went up 41-38 with 4:01 to play in regulation. The Cougars and Spartans traded baskets on consecutive possessions, and with 1:39 remaining, Conant's Dylan Bartuch drained his third three-pointer of the contest to knot the game at 43. Neither team scored in the final minute.

Conant matched its first-quarter 5-0 run as overtime got underway and the Spartans could not recover, managing just a single basket from Joe Prince (four-points, three-assists) in the extra frame.

"It's too bad the seeding has already been done," Conant head coach Tom McCormack said jokingly. "We try and play a very tough non-conference schedule and we have a lot of respect for their program -- they're a great program year in and year out."

Senior London Dokubo led the Cougars with a game-high 19 points and four assists while Bartuch and George Pessimisis scored 10 and eight, respectively.

Peter Szostak tallied 11 points and five boards for the Spartans, who also received quality minutes from reserves Mitchell Lev, Trevor Ponticelli and Mark Johnson.

"This was kind of an ugly game, to tell you the truth," said Weber. "We were so shorthanded and our guys did a nice job of stepping up -- guys that haven't played much this year gave us great minutes."

Glenbrook North, which has suffered two losses to Mid Suburban League opponents in as many opportunities this season, will next try to earn a victory over the MSL when Hersey visits Northbrook on Tuesday night (7:30pm).