On Feb. 7, Hinsdale Central went up against Downers Grove North (DGN) in a conference match-up held inside the Central gym. Hinsdale Central triumphed in the close match-up with a final score of 45-43.

The game began with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. By the end of the first quarter, Hinsdale held a slim lead with eight points, while Downers managed to score five. The first half turned into a defensive battle, with points hard to come by and many turnovers present. By halftime, the score was 19-15 Hinsdale.

“The scoring hasn’t been good by both teams, so far but the defensive intensity is impressive,” said Nathan Levendel, senior.

In the third quarter, the scoring started to increase. As players on both sides hustled, the margin slowly got smaller. The third quarter ends with a score of Central 30 and DGN 28. Early into the fourth quarter, DGN took the lead for the first time in the entire match. From that point on, both teams kept regaining the lead over each other with every possession of the ball.

In the final moments of the game, DGN was losing by two points and attempted a buzzer beater three point shot to win the game. Hinsdale Central blocked the game winning shot, and the game concluded with Hinsdale Central winning the  rival showdown.

“The game was very close the whole time…the ending had me on the edge of my seat,” said Haris Smajkic, senior.

Senior Owen Stamer added, “Everyone played amazing and I had fun cheering my team on.” 

The Hinsdale Central Red Devils currently hold a win percentage of 93.33% with a record of 28-2. Hinsdale Central holds the top spot in the conference with a 10-1 record, ahead of Glenbard West and Downers Grove North. The Red Devils already broke the school record for most wins in a row after defeating Fenwick and Prospect recently. 

For schedule information, access this link.