Boys Basketball: Watts has another solid outing in Deerfield’s OT loss to HP
BY MARK PERLMAN Contributor February 10, 2012 11:06PM
Danny Dlugie of the Giants scores and draws a foul during Friday's overtime win over Deerfield. Dlugie hit the game-winning three-pointer. | Morgan Glier~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 17, 2012 8:09AM
Every time Deerfield needed a big play against visiting Highland Park Friday night, Mack Watts seemed to be involved — one way or another.
With his team trailing 34-33, Watts sank a shot from inside the lane to give the Warriors a 35-34 lead with 49 seconds left in overtime.
“We ran one of our sets,” Watts said. “Alex (Sacks) came around, and I slipped a screen. I kind of faked a pass, and saw an opening, and just pulled up.”
Although Highland Park eventually pulled out a 37-35 overtime victory, the outcome didn’t diminish one of Watts’ typical games.
Watts scored 11 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals, and his solid defensive play helped limit Highland Park to 36.6 percent shooting from the field (15-for-41).
“Mack is the true essence of a Warrior — the toughest kid we’ve got,” said Deerfield coach JJ Pearl about his senior captain. “He’s done it night in and night out for us, whether on the practice court or in the game.”
Added Watts: “My role all year has been to come in and do whatever the team needs — scoring, rebounding, hitting guys open, trying for steals — anything.”
It was another tight Warriors-Giants battle on the hardwood, with neither team enjoying more than a four-point margin from the second quarter on. After Watts gave Deerfield the lead, the Giants’ Danny Dlugie took an inbounds pass and hit a three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left to give Highland Park the dramatic OT victory.
Pearl summed up the heart-wrenching loss.
“Our kids have nothing left. They left it all on the floor. That’s all I can ask,” Pearl said. “Great basketball game. Great rivalry. Fun to be part of. Not fun to lose.”
Deerfield (10-13, 4-5) battled back from an early 8-1 deficit, and then from 30-26 late in the fourth quarter. Michael Alfieri hit a jumper with 1:54 left to bring the Warriors within 30-28. Alex Sacks then sank a midrange shot with 27 second remaining to tie the score at 30-30. The Warriors defense then forced the Giants into a desperation shot at the buzzer to force overtime.
“It’s an extremely tough loss. A big game with that kind of atmosphere against your rival on Senior Night,” Watts said. “We just couldn’t get one more stop.”
Sacks had 12 points — including two three-pointers — with six rebounds and three steals.
“Alex did everything,” Pearl said. “We’re an undersized team, and Alex did a great job of getting rebounds.”
Alfieri added 10 points and six rebounds.
The Warriors will have an opportunity to face Highland Park for a third time, when the teams meet in the Rolling Meadows Regional. The match-up is slated for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27. The winner will face No. 2-seeded St. Viator at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28.
“Playing against Highland Park will be a little extra bonus for us,” Watts said.
Recap: Paced by Tony Shapiro and Alfieri, Deerfield took out Friday night’s loss to Highland Park on Sullivan.
The Warriors played one of their games of the season in crushing the visitors 75-31 in the nonconference tilt.
Shapiro and Alfieri scored 14 points apiece. Shapiro, a junior, nailed four three-pointers. Alfieri led all rebounders with seven. Corey Gutman added six boards.
Greg Dikopf had quite a night. The junior came off the bench to score a career-best 12 points. He was 5-for-5 from the field.
Watts was the fourth Deerfield player to reach double figures, adding 10 points. He also had a team-high four assists.
Jack Lazar added six points.
All 15 Warriors who suited up saw playing time.
“It was a good team win and a good chance to get some reserves some playing time,” Pearl said.
On the schedule: Deerfield will conclude the CSL North season against Niles North at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
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