On Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, the Antioch Community High School Sequoits boys basketball team played in a conference showdown against the Wauconda High School Bulldogs in a game that put them in an unfamiliar position. In a low-scoring affair, the Sequoits pull out a hard-fought win by a score of 48-46. Antioch lost the previous matchup against the Bulldogs 69-55, so this win marks the first ACHS victory over the Bulldogs this season.
The Sequoits started the game with energy on both ends of the court. By the end of the first quarter, the Sequoits held a 15-10 advantage. This energy and tenacity continued through the second quarter as the Bulldogs only managed to score seven points in the eight-minute frame. The shots also continued to fall for the Sequoits as well, bringing the score to 26-17 by the end of the half.
The second half began; the Bulldogs began to knock down some shots, bringing the score to 37-33 by the end of the third quarter. Tension and adrenaline were high for everyone in attendance. The Sequoits came out in the second half the same way they did in the opening half, with energy, going on a run and building a double-digit lead midway through the quarter. The Bulldogs, however, did not go down without a fight, bringing the score to 47-46 Sequoits with under a minute to play in the game. But, with some timely plays on both ends coupled with Wauconda’s game-tying jumper and putback attempt not being able to fall, Antioch emerged victorious.
Junior Marshall Gehrke led all scorers in the game, pouring in 18 points while shooting 66.7% from the field; senior Carter Webb scored 14 points of his own while shooting 57.1% (4/7) from behind the arc. Four other Sequoits added points of their own to help contribute to the win.
To follow up the offense, the Sequoits were continuously grabbing rebounds on missed shots by both teams, as Gehrke and junior Jason Lee each had a team-high of five rebounds. Several other players added multiple rebounds as the team crashed the glass all night, leaving little opportunity for the Bulldogs to get any second-chance points.
With the win, the Sequoits, with a record of 13-15, have a chance on Tuesday to clinch a share of the NLCC Conference Championship for the first time in 43 years against the Round Lake Panthers, who hold a record of 1-26. Make sure to support your Sequoits as they look to finish off their quest to become Kings of the North.
