Naperville Central senior center Jackson First came down with the rebound and handed the ball to sophomore guard TJ Hillman, who dribbled out the final few seconds.
It was a fitting way for First and the Redhawks to finish their last home game.
“It’s pretty not normal when he doesn’t get a rebound,” Naperville Central senior forward Ross DeZur said.
First, who averages a double-double, had 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as the Redhawks held off Oswego 51-43 in the Class 4A Downers Grove North Regional quarterfinal on Monday night.
It was also the final home appearance — but not the last game — for Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer, who is retiring after the season.
“It means a lot,” First said. “Coach said we tried to get the win for the seniors, but our thought process going into the game was to get the win for him because we lost what was supposed to be our final home game.”
First was referring to the Redhawks’ 57-53 loss to Plainfield Central on Jan. 27, when Kramer was honored for his 21-year tenure. Kramer, who has a 333-243 record, is the second-winningest coach in the 113-year history of the program, behind his predecessor, the late Bob Sterr.
The Redhawks (10-22) are not hosting a regional or sectional. Due to their record, they were seeded 15th in the East Aurora Sectional, which required them to host 18th-seeded Oswego (4-25).
The 6-foot-5 First and his teammates, particularly DeZur, took advantage of the opportunity. Both recorded double-doubles to help the Redhawks advance to the regional semifinals, where they will play second-seeded Downers Grove North (26-4) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
DeZur suffered an injured ankle early in the second half of Naperville Central’s 53-38 win at Oswego on Feb. 6 and missed the last two regular-season games. He returned to action with a vengeance, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Redhawks outrebounded the Panthers by a 38-15 margin.
“I wanted to win pretty badly against them,” DeZur said. “So I was pretty excited that I played well and we all played well.”
So was Kramer, whose teams have won just 17 games over the past two seasons. This season included an 0-10 record in the DuPage Valley Conference.
“That’s why we’re still fighting, because those two have been through it all,” Kramer said. “They’re a big part of what we do.
“When they rebound like that, we stay in games because the other team only gets one shot. I squeeze every little thing I can out of them because I know we’ve got to get everything out of them because we’re a little deficient in other areas.”
Kramer said First, who is averaging 10.6 points and 10.6 rebounds, is one of the best rebounders in program history. Regardless of what else is happening, First is as reliable as an atomic clock on the boards.
“I think it’s his positioning,” DeZur said. “He gets really good positioning always. He’s always boxing out well, and he can also grab anything.”
That was true even against Oswego’s 6-11 junior center Hunter O’Neill, who had six blocks but only two rebounds and two points.
“I just tried to hold my ground and do as best I could,” First said. “I knew I wasn’t really going to be able to take him in the post as much as I can do with other kids, but I tried to go around him a couple times.
“I can’t outjump him because he’s just so big, so I just tried to tip it back, and hopefully I can outwork him a little bit in that aspect.”
Kramer is appreciative of the effort First and DeZur have given as captains this season.
“They’ve kept it fun,” Kramer said. “They weren’t glory seasons, but I tell you what, they keep us in games. They do a lot of dirty work, which is sometimes unnoticed, but not by us.”
That work was crucial against the Panthers, who cut a 15-point deficit to 41-38 early in the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie. But First rebounded a missed shot and fed DeZur for a basket, and then First scored inside on the next possession.
The Redhawks will be huge underdogs on Wednesday, but one thing is certain.
“I’ll always go out there and give it my all every time I step on the court,” First said. “I have to. That’s how I play.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
