OAK FOREST | Deland Deere and the Meteors are made for just this type of game.
T.F. North overcame Oak Forest 46-33 on Friday night and played a sound defensive game against their South Suburban Blue Conference foe. With the win, the Meteors improved to 11-2 in South Suburban Blue Conference play. T.F. North used its stingy defense to hold the Bengals to nine field goals on the night. Deere led the Meteors in scoring with 13 points, including three three pointers on the night, and said the team is working at keeping the defense ready for the playoffs.
"That's how we play," Deere said. "Low scoring game and keep the team at our tempo. We have to keep our defense crisp for the playoffs coming up."
Senior Greg McClain added nine points and five rebounds for T.F. North, and sophomore Davonte Henry added nine points for the Meteors. T.F. North coach Tim Bankston said he was happy with the defense of the starting unit and the play of his bench throughout the game.
"We just wanted to play everyone and we played the whole bench," Bankston said. "I thought we played pretty well when we kept our starting unit in there as one. I thought they played damn good defense, and I thought they executed the offense pretty well. I was pleased with what they did."
The Meteors (19-7, 11-2) led 27-16 at the half and showed no sign of giving up the lead in the second half. The Meteors received solid play from the second unit and the bench, including sophomore Henry and his fellow classmates.
"I was happy with my sophomores who went in there on the second unit," Bankston said. "Even though (Oak Forest) closed the gap a little bit, they still came and played with some poise after that. So I was very pleased with the younger kids."
Deere believes the Meteors are focused for the start of next week's playoffs, and the team is looking to make a deep run into the post season.
"We're really focused right now," Deere said. "We're trying to get focused and we're trying to make a big run in the playoffs coming up. We're trying to make it downstate."
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