Smith, Simeon escape Bulldogs By: Eric Quall Batavia- Nick Fruendt has it. The it that everyone talks about, yet nobody knows what it is. Tonight despite the 68-65 double overtime loss to state power Simeon, Nick Fruendt’s it was more apparent than ever. Nick Fruendt had only 11 points after the 3rd quarter, but picked up his game after that. When the Bulldogs needed it most their best player came up huge. Fruendt had 9 points in a 17 point 4th quarter that saw Batavia come back and push the game into overtime. Batavia had been trailing the entire game, keeping it just close enough for Fruendt, a Northwestern commit to take over. Batavia was down 4 after 1, down 3 at halftime, and down 3 after the third quarter. Fruendt though had help from his teammates though, and plenty of defense to thank for keeping the game within reach. Senior guard Phil Albrecht had 12 of his 15 points coming in the first 3 quarters while Fruendt was being taken out of the game by Simeon. For Batavia junior David Bryant also had 10 points, and senior forward had 9 points and 8 rebounds. For Simeon, Stan Simpson had a huge night. The Illinois commit had 23 points, 12 rebounds and at least 7 clean, hard blocks. Simpson’s 12 rebounds helped the Wolverines gain a huge advantage on the glass outrebounding Batavia by 13. The only other Wolverine in double figures was junior Brandon Orange with 11. But Simpson was not without help. Josh Anderson, Lazeric Jones, and Jeremy Jones all added 8 points and Pierre Sneed had 6 rounding out a well balanced Simeon attack. Kenyon Smith was quiet with just 2 points, but also added 5 rebounds and 5 assists. But back to the Nick Fruendt show. In the first 4 minutes of overtime, Fruendt scored all 4 of Batavia’s points including a quick basket a few seconds in off the tip. After an Orange layup, Fruendt was sent to the line with 3 minutes left and hit them both. The senior was just 5 for 10 from the line but was 3 for 4 in his clutch 4th quarter. A minute later Simpson had a layup and was sent to the line for his and-one. Simpson missed his only free throw of the game and it proved to hurt the Wolverines. Simeon got the ball back with about a minute left and held for the last shot. Senior Lazeric Jones cut through the lane and layed it up off the backboard and just missed being the hero. Halfway through the 2nd overtime Fruendt was sent to the line again with the chance to give his Bulldogs a lead with just 2 minutes to play. Unfortunately the senior missed them both and gave Simeon the chance they needed. Shortly after Stan Simpson had a nice lay in to put the Wolverines up 2. Fruendt came back down the court quickly and tied it up at 62. But then Simpson made another basket, and with 17 seconds left Brandon Orange layed it in to put Simeon up 6 with time waning away.
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