Too much Hinsdale Central in the third quarter and too little, too late by Wheaton North.
The result was Saturday's 45-42 victory for the Red Devils at the Downers Grove North Winter Classic.
There were four lead changes and three ties before Hinsdale Central (9-7) took control with a 16-2 run to start the third quarter. With Chris Eck scoring 9 of his 10 points during the burst, the Red Devils built a 33-19 lead.
Wheaton North (10-5) eventually whittled down the deficit to a single possession and had the ball in the final minute, but the Falcons couldn't convert. Three-of-seven free-throw shooting down the stretch was just enough for Hinsdale Central.
"We needed it," said Red Devils coach Nick Latorre. "Really good team win. I thought we showed some grit and hung in there with a good team."
After scoring his team's only 6 points in the first quarter, Wheaton North's Luke Anthony scored 12 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. Rowan McGowen added 10 points.
Balanced Hinsdale Central was led by Trevor Hamilton's 12 points off the bench, Peter Blust's 11 points and Eck's 10 points.
"We've got to be able to do the little things for 32 minutes," said Falcons coach Dave Brackmann. "We've done this a handful of times where we go through a stretch where we don't have any energy and dig ourselves a hole."