GENEVA – The St. Charles North boys basketball team has encountered mixed results protecting late leads this season, but the North Stars aren’t about to turn wide-eyed when they see a lead shrinking.

North went more than six minutes into the fourth quarter without scoring and saw its 11-point lead dwindle to two, but the North Stars made eight straight free throws to replenish their advantage and hang on Friday for a 53-50 Upstate Eight Conference River win against Geneva.

Senior point guard Tony Neari made four of those free throws, including North’s first points of the quarter for a 47-43 lead with 1:58 left in the game.