Boys Basketball: Nesnidal helps OPRF hold off Hilltoppers

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:27AM

Alex Nesnidal’s hot hand helped WSC Silver champion Oak Park-River Forest survive a big challenge Friday in a 59-56 win at Glenbard West.

Unable to shake the hosts all night after building an early 19-8 lead, the Huskies (18-5, 10-2) received a big boost when needed from Nesnidal’s pinpoint outside shooting. The 6-foot-3 senior forward scored all of his 18 points over the last three quarters, including five during an 8-4 run in the fourth quarter that put OPRF up 53-47 with 2:05 left.

“I was just getting my open shots,” said Nesnidal, who hit four three-pointers on the night. “I look for my three-point shot, and once that starts falling I get into the flow of the game I guess. I was just knocking them down and trying to help my team.”

OPRF also received plenty of help from usual standouts Gabe Levin (19 points, five rebounds) and K’Darryl Bell (11 points, three steals) in fending off a big challenge from the Hilltoppers (15-8, 6-6).

Having recently surpassed Northwestern star John Shurna as Glenbard West’s all-time leading scorer, the Hilltoppers’ Michael Mache marked Senior Night with a 20-point, nine-rebound effort.

Jeff Levesque (eight points, seven assists) and Pat Mazza (six points, 10 rebounds) were other big contributors for the Hilltoppers, who had fallen at OPRF 81-54 in the two teams’ Feb. 1 meeting.

“It’s their home court and they played very well,” Nesnidal said. “Last time it seemed like we got into their heads early, but tonight they were ready to play. But we were ready to withstand the challenge.”

Nesnidal hit almost every big shot to make that happen. His consecutive three-pointers late in the first half turned a 21-19 Huskies deficit into a 25-21 lead (which was 27-23 at halftime).

Then after a Mache layup with 5:32 left drew the Hilltoppers within 45-43, Nesnidal answered with another three just 17 seconds later. OPRF’s lead never dipped below three points the rest of the night.

“You get the ball in spots and in the second half I was just more open than in the first,” he said, “If the threes go down you start getting into the flow and start hitting your shots more and more.”

Jakari Cammon added five points, five assists and two steals for the Huskies, who capped a big four-day stretch that began with a lopsided win Tuesday at York that clinched the conference title.

“We’re the real deal I think,” Nesnidal said. “We’re ready to play every night. We have a legit team and we’re ready to play anybody. I think we have a chance to go really far.