Analysis: Redhawks Escape Wheaton North More Needed to Survive Glenbard East

When asked if he’d like his chances on a night when star David Niggins scores just six points, boys basketball coach Pete Kramer said probably not. But on Monday, in a regional battle with DVC foe Wheaton North, the Redhawks managed to do more than just get by without a lot of points from Niggins, their senior leader who is much more likely to score 20 points in a game than he is to be held to single digits.

But against the Falcons, Mike Schremp hit a 3-pointer for a 7-5 lead 3 ½ minutes in, and Schremp went on score 7 points as NCHS built a 16-7 lead after one quarter. Then, after Schremp hit a short jumper following his steal early in the second quarter, the Redhawks had an 18-7 lead but ended up stuck with that score for close to six minutes. Even so, a late 3-pointer from Bryce Kirk still enabled them to hold a 21-16 lead at the half, which considering Niggins was without a point, was pretty impressive.

“Bryce Kirk hit some big threes in both halves,” Kramer said. “He grew up tonight I thought. If you’d have told me we we’d win with him (Niggins) scoring six points…that’s a credit to the other kids and David would be the first say that’s a credit to his teammates. Oh, we’re going to need him to score tomorrow (however).”

Wheaton North’s Mike Fitzpatrick played superb defense on Niggins on Monday, but Kramer also thinks a hard fall to the floor in the first quarter may have affected his leader’s offense as well. “I haven’t seen a team shut David down like that all year, but at the same time, I think he hit his head hard. He was battling after that but he had no flow offensively,” Kramer said.

“EXTRA POINTS”

Johnny on the spot: With Niggins’ offense a little down, Bryce Kirk picked a great night to be on for the Redhawks. He connected on a 3-pointer in each quarter on his way to 14 points against the Falcons, who close the year out at 11-16. “Before the game when I was warming up I was hitting my shots,” Kirk said. “Then when I took them in the game I really felt it. I noticed that (others were struggling a little) so I thought to myself I had step up.”

Next up: With the win on Monday, Naperville Central, seeded 19th in the East Aurora sectional, improved to 13-14 and lives at least another day. On Tuesday night in Lombard, the Redhawks square off against No. 3-seeded Glenbard East and the host Rams have gone unbeaten in the DVC in each of the last two seasons. The winner of that game will play in Friday’s regional final at 7:30 pm also at Glenbard East.

Hot Links: Miss something? Read Defense, Kirk help Redhawks eliminate Wheaton North.