West Chicago Press, 01/13/06
By Sue Alley, Correspondent

A six-hour trip to play Westminster Christian (Mo.) paid off for the Wheaton Academy boys basketball team last weekend.

The Warriors avenged last year's loss with a 83-82 triple-overtime win. The Westminster Wildcats took an early lead that held for most of the first half. Defensively, the Warriors' full-court press kept the game within reach, but their shooting was cold at the outset.

At halftime, the Warriors trailed by eight points, 31-23.

In the third quarter, Jason VanderVeen (five points, 10 assists) led the Warriors' full-court defensive pressure that resulted in numerous Wildcat turnovers. Jeremy Parker hit five of his six 3-point field goals in the fourth quarter including one that sent the game into overtime. Parker finished the night with a game-high 24 points, while teammate John Tillery contributed 22 points and five crucial rebounds.

In the first overtime period, Axel Cerny (10 points, three assists) hit a 3-pointer from beyond the arc and made a steal on the ensuing play as time was running down.

Trailing by two points, Wheaton Academy called a timeout.

Sophomore Ben Euler came off the bench to hit a conventional two-pointer from the baseline to send the game into a second overtime.

It appeared that Westminster would prevail after an exchange of buckets in a see-saw second overtime session. Trailing once again by two points with nine seconds left, the Warriors called a timeout.

When play resumed, Parker got the ball and launched a 3-point shot from the top of the key. It seemed that time stood still as Parker's shot bounced off of the rim. However, Cerny was in the right place at the right time and tipped the ball in to tie the game and force a third overtime period.

In the third OT, it continued to be a battle. With 27 seconds left, Westminster scored and drew a foul but missed the free throw. Wheaton grabbed the rebound and called a timeout, trailing 82-80.

Coach Andy Euler set up a play. Tillery drove toward the basket, saw Ben Euler in the corner and passed the ball back out to him. The cool-headed sophomore drained a clutch 3-pointer, giving the Warriors an amazing 83-82 triple-overtime triumph.

The Warriors will spend next week in southern Illinois at the Massac County High School Superman Classic, facing teams from Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri.