WINNETKA, IL, Jan. 9 - Finding a turning point in a double-overtime game is a bit like finding hay in a haystack. They are literally everywhere. And pinpointing the one absolute key moment is also elusive.
This much is certainly true, however. Mooseheart found its legs were still resilient after going nearly a month without game play in Saturday's 74-71 double-overtime win over North Shore Country Day and improved to 4-5 for the season.
"I'm happy to get out of here with a win," Mooseheart coach Ron Ahrens said. "North Shore Country Day was really good. They were really big and talented."
There were so many possible key moments. There was an 18-8 start which showed that the rust from more than three non-competitive weeks was not going to be a factor. Mooseheart's last game was a Dec. 17 victory over Kirkland-Hiawatha. The Ramblers do not participate in a holiday tournament as most players return home during the holiday break. So the Ramblers went two weeks without a practice.
"I think we can play a lot better," Ahrens said. "But being on break from Dec. 17 to now and being on break and coming out and winning in double overtime. I'm really pleased with that."
There was a recovery from an 0-11 start at the free throw line. Eventually, the Ramblers finished 19-39 from the free throw line, but that meant the team was 19-28 after its horrid start.
The defense had its share of success - especially when the Ramblers fell behind 41-27 early in the third quarter. Mooseheart embarked on a 10-point run and carried that into a 20-2 stretch that put the visitors ahead 47-43 with 4:54 left
There was an offensive show put on by Munir Smith and Jonell Crump. Smith scored 27, including 6 key points in the decisive second overtime. Crump added 18 and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the first overtime.
Then there were the clutch 3-pointers by Shawn McReynolds. The first was a right baseline shot that fell with 18 seconds left in regulation that gave the Ramblers a 52-51 lead. The second came with 3 seconds to play in the first overtime and tied the score at 60-60.
"Those were big shots," Ahrens said. "That one in the corner was a tough shot. He came off a screen and jacked it up there. It was a nice shot."
Finally, there was a bit of good fortune. The Ramblers endured an intentional foul and technical foul situation with only 7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, leading 52-51. The Raiders only hit 1 of their 4 free throws and then failed to score on the final possession of regulation, giving Mooseheart a chance in overtime.
North Shore Country Day was led by Austin Curren's 30-point effort. Kevin Malpede added 11 points for the Raiders.
Mooseheart: McReynolds 3 0-0 9, Yarngo 2 0-0 4, Brigman 3 2-2 9, Chavez 1 3-8 5, Smith 10 7-15 27, Moore 1 0-2 2, Lech 0 0-0 0, Crump 5 7-12 18. Totals 25 19-39 74.
North Shore Country Day: Stein 0 0-0 0, Nolan 2 2-4 6, Bruce 3 2-6 9, Surpless 1 1-2 3, Malpede 3 2-4 11, Curren 8 12-14 30, Wulfsohn 0 0-0 0, Gendell 1 0-0 3, Anderson 3 1-2 7, Elam 0 0-0 0, Swimmer 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 20-32 71.
Mooseheart 18 7 14 13 8 14 - 74
North Shore Country Day 10 22 11 9 8 11 - 71
3-point goals: McReynolds 3, Brigman 1, Crump 1, Bruce 1, Malpede 3, Curren 2, Gendell 1. Fouled out: Crump. Technical foul: Crump. | 
