Boys Basketball: Hinsdale Central shocks Metea Valley

Updated: February 4, 2012 11:22PM

The beauty of youth, it is said, is not knowing. Matt Rafferty has the poise to block out the pressure.

“I was nervous,” the 6-6 Hinsdale Central freshman center said. “Anybody would be in that situation.”

Rafferty converted two free throws with 19.4 seconds left as the host Red Devils posted their second consecutive overtime victory by stunning No. 9 Metea Valley 73-72 Saturday in nonconference play.

“After I made the first one, that relieved a lot of the pressure,” he said.

Rafferty scored a career-high 16 points and added seven rebounds. His dramatic free throws provided the fifth lead change of the fourth quarter and overtime.

Metea Valley senior guard Kenny Obendorf (13 points) helped the Mustangs rally from a four-point overtime deficit by drilling a bank shot with 28 seconds remaining for his team’s final advantage at 72-71.

Junior Metea Valley forward Sean Davis (11 points) missed a tough off-balanced jumper in the closing seconds.

A night after pulling out a thrilling overtime victory over Oak Park-River Forest, the Red Devils (13-7) overcame a 12-point second-quarter Metea Valley lead. They also survived despite squandering a seven-point lead in the final 2:45 of regulation.

Sophomore Chase Hamilton drilled three three-pointers in scoring a game-high 19 points for the Red Devils. His four free throws in overtime pushed the Red Devils out to a 71-67 lead.

Senior guard Brad Anlauf also contributed 17 points that helped negate a 19-2 first-half Mustangs’ outburst that catapulted them to a 29-17 lead with four minutes to play in the second quarter.

Hinsdale Central ended the second quarter on a 17-7 burst to pull within 36-34 at the break.

“We had this very emotional game last night against Oak Park, and we came out a little flat,” Anlauf said. “We did not play the kind of defense we needed, but fortunately we were able to get to that level and that got us back into the game.”

Anlauf appeared the hero in regulation when he scored five consecutive points, including a three-point play that gave the Red Devils a late seven-point lead.

Metea Valley scored the final seven points to force extra session. Senior forward Milan Bojanic (15 points, seven rebounds) recorded a steal and split two free throws with 12.5 seconds.

Turnovers and crucial missed free throws hurt the Mustangs, who led by as many as seven in the second half. Bojanic and senior guard Ryan Solomon (team-high 16 points) both fouled out in overtime.

“I just thought there were times in the game when we had a chance to build on the lead and we relaxed (offensively),” Metea Valley coach Bob Vozza said.

“Give credit to Hinsdale Central. I don’t think their defense was any different. They got us out of position and they forced us to foul them and the kid made the two free throws.”

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