It wasn’t a typical Wednesday night at Kaneland High School. It was tense and exciting because it was the night of the Sectional semifinal game, and for the first time since 1982, the Kaneland Knights would play in a game late in the postseason. To make this even better for Kaneland, they would be playing Belvidere North in front of their home crowd.
“I’ve been a fan for as long as I remember. I mean, it’s electric in here, man,” junior Charlie Krupka said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m on top of the world. I had to take multiple breaths and realize the moment before the game. I can’t believe this team has made it this far and we’re not done yet.”
Fans for both teams stood and roared as the ball went up for the opening tip. As players were announced fans were roaring through the stadium, as the refs got ready to throw the ball up, Kaneland junior Freddy Hassan and Belvidere North senior Braeden Brown shook hands, and then the action started. The ball was thrown up and Brown and Belvidere controlled the tip.
The first four possessions were a battle between Kaneland guard Troyer Carlson and Belvidere North power forward Robert Koeller. Both started the game with quick buckets and then big threes to have the game tied 5-5 through the first minute. However, after Koeller’s initial five points he cooled off a bit. Carlson, though, started with the first 10 points of the game for Kaneland.
“I got the ball in my hands, had open looks and decided to take my shots. I knew if I started hot it would be a good game for me and the team,” Carlson said.
There were a combined seven fouls in the first quarter that led to free throws and extra possessions after missed shots. Kaneland had a total of four fouls and Belvidere North had three. At the end of the first quarter, Kaneland led 18-13.
Hassan started the second quarter by hitting a putback layup to give the Knights a seven-point lead. But Belvidere was able to strike right back with a two-point jumper by senior forward Nathan Binkley. Hassan scored the first six points for Kaneland off of layups and dunks. Kaneland led 25-21 before a few fouls were called. After the foul shots, Kaneland had a 28-23 lead with a little more than a minute left in the half. Belvidere’s Brown hit a big three to cut the lead to two, then a bad turnover by Kaneland led to a fastbreak three for Binkley, and Belvidere had a 29-28 lead with less than a minute to go in the half.
As Kaneland was bringing the ball up, they started passing it around. After multiple seconds, Carlson turned the ball over on a pass to junior guard Preston Popovich. Belvidere got the ball with 2.9 seconds and took a full court shot that missed. Belvidere led Kaneland 29-28 at the half.
“As every good sports fan knows, the game isn’t over at halftime. Doesn’t matter if you’re down one or up 15, the game isn’t over until the clock hits triple zeros,” head coach Ernie Colombe said.
At the start of the second half, after multiple stops, turnovers and then a basket by Kaneland, Colombe took a timeout to settle his team down. After the timeout, Kaneland went on a 4-0 run to build their lead. However Belvidere then scored two baskets off turnovers. Right after Belvidere cut the game to one, Kaneland would inbound the ball. Hassan was double teamed which left senior forward Parker Violett wide open for a layup.
With Kaneland leading 36-33, Belvidere held the ball until the end of the quarter. The Knights crowd was cheering for the defense to get a stop, while Belvidere’s crowd was hoping for a clutch basket. With about five seconds left, junior point guard Lawrence Townsend hit a three-point basket.
To start the 4th quarter, Kaneland got the ball first. Popovich hit a three to give Kaneland the lead. After the basket, Belvidere rushed the ball up the court and lost it. Carlson had a fast break and took a three and hit it to increase Kaneland’s lead to six. After the bucket by Carlson, the Knights forced another turnover. Afterwards, Kaneland was able to get a put-back layup by Hassan to give them a 44-36 lead.
“After we started the 4th quarter off on the 8-0 run, the crowd noise was electric. It felt like we were wearing out Belvidere. It’s like they couldn’t stop us,” Carlson said.
After the big start to the quarter, Braeden Brown was able to hit a big three to cut the lead down to five. After the three, Carlson hit a big two-point reverse layup to make the lead seven again.
After Belvidere called a timeout, senior guard Joseph Brown drove right to the hoop and drew a foul. He hit both free throws and made the game 46-41. However, Belvidere couldn’t stop Carlson, because he came back and hit another big jumper. This pushed his total to 19 points.
After the bucket by Carlson, Kaneland committed some turnovers and missed some shots that allowed Belvidere to cut the lead to two points. It was 49-47 with a little over three minutes to play.
The gym went silent, but then Carlson threw a pass up to Hassan, who dunked the ball and was fouled. After Hassan made his free throw, Kaneland’s lead was five. Braeden Brown, though, hit another three to cut the lead back to two. Belvidere took a timeout with Kaneland leading 52-50.
After the timeout, Kaneland started with the ball at the baseline. Belvidere again doubled teamed Hassan as senior guard Brad Franck was about to pass it in. Again it left Violett wide open for a layup. However, Koeller was able to cut the lead back to two with a basket. After a Kaneland timeout, Hassan got a basket to push the lead back up to four. After the basket, Belvidere pushed the ball up the court. With 3.7 seconds left, Braeden Brown hit another three.
It was a one-point game. The clock didn’t stop, and Kaneland would’ve been able to run the time-out and win 56-55. However, one of the Belvidere players smacked the ball away from Franck so the clock would stop. After some discussion between the referees, they decided not to issue a technical foul. Kaneland passed it in, with Franck getting it into Carlson. After it was passed in, Carlson got brought down hard. After the hard foul, the referees met again to discuss whether it was a common foul or a flagrant.
Carlson ended up going to the line for a common foul. Kaneland was in the bonus, so Carlson had two shots. Carlson was able to hit the first free throw, and Kaneland had a 57-55 lead. As he got the ball for the second free throw, he took a breath and took the shot. The ball hit off the rim and missed. Koeller got the rebound and threw it to Adam Brown, who chucked the ball up with 1.6 seconds. It hit off the glass and bounced to the ground.
Kaneland survived Belvidere. After the teams shook hands, Kaneland ran over to their student section as they all rushed the court.
“Man, we did what we practiced. The crowd brought the energy we love, and this was a great team win. These guys are my brothers, man. I love these guys, and we’re not done yet,” Hassan said.
Knowing it could’ve been the seniors’ last game at Kaneland, the team was able to find ways to win and earn another opportunity on their home court in the Sectional final against top-seeded Crystal Lake South on Friday.
“Being able to win this game in front of the home fans was amazing. The game was great. We were the underdogs, but it didn’t matter. These fans are amazing, this team is amazing and let’s keep rolling. Go Knights,” Carlson said.
As most fans know, games don’t end at halftime. Whether a team is trailing or winning, teams need to find a way to persevere in the second half. Tonight, Kaneland earned the win with halftime adjustments and second half execution.
“I told the team at half that games aren’t over until the clock hits triple zeros. This team is really good. We’re underdogs from here on out in these games, but we’re going to keep fighting until a team proves they’re better than us,” Colombe said.
