DIXON – The public-address announcer called Cole Carlson's name as Matt Limbrunner stood up from the bench before Saturday's boys basketball game between Kaneland and Dixon at Lancaster Gym.
Limbrunner, a 6-foot-4 inch senior forward, shrugged his shoulders and ran out onto the court pretty sure he was supposed to be in the Knights' starting lineup. Kaneland coach Brian Johnson knew it was true.
As the teams gathered around center court, Johnson made sure that the wrong name had been said and not that he had marked the wrong player in the scorebook. Johnson's book was correct.
The altercation proved to be the highest drama in the Knights' 76-62 win over Dixon as Kaneland snapped a five-game losing streak.
"That's one the best teams out of the East side of the [Northern Illinois Big 12]," Dixon coach Jason Mead said. "They were bigger and faster than us. They were also hitting shots that I didn't see them hit on any of the films I watched. Those shots forced us out of our zone right away."
The Knights wasted no time getting the ball down to Limbrunner. He was fed in the post on the first possession, and he powered up for two points.
After an empty possession by Dixon, Dan Miller hit a jumper to put Kaneland up 4-0.
Dixon (3-22) rallied as Nate Gascoigne scored off an assist from Matt Coffey. Cal Jarrett scored moments later to tie the score.
Kaneland scored the next six points, but Dixon rallied to make it 12-8 with with 3:30 left in the quarter.
The Knights (14-11) took over from there. Drew David hit a pair of 3-pointers, as Kaneland finished the quarter on a 11-2 run. The Knights scored the first four points of the second quarter for a 27-10 lead.
"After a tough game last night against Morris, and a five game stretch here where we haven't played well," Johnson said, "we needed to come out strong tonight.
"We knew that Dixon had beat DeKalb, who had beat us. So we couldn't overlook them. I've known coach Mead for a long time, and I know that he's doing a great job here. This is a team that in a few years we are not going to want to face."
Limbrunner had 13 of his 15 points before the break, as Kaneland rested its starters for much of the second half. Carlson, who had his named called as a starter, got starters' minutes and played like one. He finished with a game-high 17 points.
Bloomington Central Catholic 59, Marmion 57: At Aurora, Alex Theisen and Mike Sheehan scored 14 points apiece but Marmion (10-17) fell at the buzzer after being outscored 20-6 in the fourth quarter.
BOYS SWIMMING
Neuqua Valley Sectional: Marmion finished fifth as a team in the sectional, highlighted by a third place finish in the 100-yard butterfly from senior Robert Ramoska (52.28 seconds).
GIRLS GYMNASTICS
IHSA State Meet: Geneva senior Ashley Puff finished ninth in the floor exercise with a score of 8.325.
• Shaw Media's Dan Woessner contributed to this report.
