After 1,127 days, Grayslake North has taken down Grayslake Central in boys basketball with a 44-40 win over their crosstown rival in the first round of the 3A Regional Playoffs. In an absolute packed gymnasium and a blackout by the GNHS super fans, the boys did not struggle under the pressure. 

Coming off a 16-14 regular season, head coach Josh Feinzimer’s teams had not beaten Grayslake Central since January of 2022. Central was coming off a 21-9 regular season and a conference title, but North got off to a fast start with a 23-19 lead at halftime after Uros Mitrovic made a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer. 

Late in the second half, when Central had gotten the game to within a point at 34-33, guard Brady Ballentine hit a huge three-pointer making it 37-33. The Knights clung to the narrow lead and the GNHS star tandem of senior Jayden Hunt and junior forward Mitrovic stepped up when it mattered most. Hunt led the way with 16 points while Mitrovic put up 15 points. 

North wound up hanging on in a very tightly-played game, exercising their demons and beating Central for the first time in three years. The Knights are now set to host Saint Viator (23-9), which dominated Wauconda in the opening round, this Friday for the 3A Regional Championship.