Three overtimes, a 25-point comeback, controversial fouls, and pressure-packed free throws. An awful lot happened on Friday in Skokie when district rivals Niles West and Niles North met in a crucial CSL North matchup.
Vikings junior Reid Olson, the son of coach Glen Olson, admitted after Niles North’s thrilling 90-81 win that this was one of those games where it paid off to be the coach’s son.
Olson was 3 for 14 from three-point range when he launched a long three-pointer with the game tied at 75 in the third overtime. It went in and he was fouled. Olson hit the free throw and Niles North went ahead by four.
The Wolves tied it up again at 79 and Olson struck again. His three-pointer with 2:28 left in the third overtime but Niles North ahead for good. Olson finished with 20 points, he scored 14 in the overtimes.
“The game was amazing,” Olson said. “I mean, this was a moment you will never forget.”
Niles West (13-7, 4-2) was on fire early and led by 25 points after senior Dave Flowers’ made a three with 4:36 left in the second quarter.
Wolves coach Mike Wasielewski decided to rest a couple of starters that were in foul trouble and the Vikings (15-5, 6-0) took advantage, closing the quarter with a 14-0 run to trail by 11 at halftime and get back in the game.
Niles North’s momentum continued in the third quarter. The Vikings took the lead with a 15-0 run.
“I made the decision to sit those guys in the first half so that is a call I made and it is what it is,” Wasielewski said. “But the second half, that was all on us.”
Flowers led the Wolves with 25 points and 11 rebounds. He’s the fifth player in school history to surpass the 1,000-point mark in his career. He fouled out late in the second overtime with Niles West leading 71-69.
“We didn’t have the proper energy while guarding Flowers in the first half,” Glen Olson said. “A great player like that in a rivalry game on his home floor, you need to give everything defending him. Jaiden Medina stepped up and did that for us in the second half.”
Niles North’s Reid Olson (1) shoots the ball during the game against Niles West.
Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
Chatham finished with 25 points and nine rebounds for Niles North and 6-6 junior Hunter Gawron added 25 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
“It was an unbelievable game,” Glen Olson said. “[Reid Olson, Yaris Irby and Kaidan Chatham] were all injured against Thornton and didn’t practice all week. You could see it in Reid’s legs in the first half. He had nothing. But we talked about riding the rollercoaster. Rivalry games are always rollercoasters.”
The Vikings play nearly all juniors and gave Thornton a battle earlier this week, losing by just seven points. Irby injured his arm in that game and didn’t play against Niles West. Olson said he’s hopeful Irby will be able to return in a couple of weeks.
Senior Joey Pantazis led the Wolves with 28 points and did an admirable job carrying the offense after Flowers fouled out. Jase Loyd, a 6-4 junior, added 14 points for Niles West.