Noah’s arc keeps ’Bolts shipshape
O’Connor heats up as Andrew downs Lincoln-Way Central for 4th straight win
Andrew’s Noah O’Connor could feel a game like this coming.
The senior shooting guard scored 21 points Friday night as the Thunderbolts pushed their winning streak to four straight with a 68-48 SouthWest Suburban Red victory over host Lincoln-Way Central.
“My confidence has been growing,” O’Connor said.
That confidence showed as O’Connor-led Andrew (16-10, 6-2) converted eight 3-pointers in turning the tables on Lincoln-Way Central (22-8, 6-1), which beat the Thunderbolts 63-47 on Feb. 4.
O’Connor, however, pointed to Andrew’s 65-51 victory over Lincoln-Way West on Feb. 11, which began the winning streak, as being a big key.
“Ever since the West game where I got my first start and scored 28, I’ve been studying the film of
Andrew’s Noah O’Connor passes the ball against Sandburg during a game in Tinley Park on Tuesday. that game, building off of “I am not surprised by that and continuing to do how well he has been things like I did in that playing because he’s one of game,” O’Connor said. the smartest kids I have
Andrew coach Dave Wilson ever coached.” spoke afterward about Lincoln-Way Central how much of an inspiration coach Bob Curran, meanwhile, O’Connor has been to the talked about the younger players on the Knights’ defense as not being team. up to par. Combined
“For all the kids out there with Andrew’s effort, that who don’t think they are tall spelled doom. enough or quick enough to “Give them credit,” Curran play basketball, just look at said. “They did a really Noah,” Wilson said. “He has good job. We gave up too a high IQ. He knows exactly many points. We allowed 22 where to go. He knows how points in just the first quarter to set up his cuts. He knows and that set the tone. how to shoot the ball, play “Andrew took advantage defense, is a true student of of their mismatches and the game. shot the ball very well.”
Junior point guard Sean Curran, the coach’s son, led Lincoln-Way Central with 16 points, but he also mentioned the team’s defensive lapses.
It helped Andrew snap the Knights’ seven-game winning streak.
“You give up 22 points in a quarter, there’s just no way you’re going to win a game like that,” Sean Curran said. “First half, I thought I was doing all right, but the second half I was missing free throws and not finishing shots at the rim.
“We were also missing a few guys like Matt (Maloney), who’s our best defender. It hurt not having him on the court.”
Afterward, O’Connor recalled the loss to LincolnWay Central and pointed out how much that provided motivation for the Thunderbolts.
“We read the article from the last time we played them, and a player on their team that said playing us was like riding a bike for him,” O’Connor said. “That fueled our fire even more.” John Romando is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.