Boys Basketball: Deerfield’s Porter back on track

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Deerfield's Eric Porter, seen here during earlier action this winter, was a major factor in his team's win over Maine West on Friday. | Joe Shuman~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:22AM

Early in the season Eric Porter was sinking a bevy of three-pointers as the starting shooting guard for Deerfield. The sophomore sharpshooter was averaging nearly 11 points per game. But then he hit a rough patch where the shots weren’t falling and he was relegated to the bench.

In Friday’s critical 37-35 come-from-behind victory over Maine West, Porter came off the bench and sank a critical three-pointer in the final minutes, adding three free throws to help his team to the victory. He finished with 12 points to share team honors with Alex Sacks.

“Eric provided us with a huge spark hitting that three,” Deerfield coach JJ Pearl said. “He is a pure shooter who gave us a lot of energy.”

“I got my feet set and felt like I was in a rhythm,” Porter said. “I had been rushing my shot too much.”

Leading 31-28 with just over two minutes left, Porter caught a pass from Mack Watts in the corner behind the three-point line. He hesitated for a moment and then let fly. An instant later the swish of the nets could be heard.

“Their center (6-9 Cody Zimmerman) started to come towards we, so I waited,” Porter said. “Then he stopped and took a step back and I shot it.

“It was great to see him knock down those shots,” Sacks said. “We need him to do that.”

As for coming of the bench?

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Porter said. “Whatever the team needs.”

“I consider him a starter whether he starts or not,” Pearl said.

Deerfield (8-9, 3-3) moved within one game of first place Glenbrook North and Highland Park in the Central Suburban North race.

“This was a really big win for us,” Pearl said. “Especially winning on the road in conference.”

Watts scored five points, while Michael Alfieri and Connor Shields each had four points.

Credit Pearl for a key strategic move. Trailing 18-10 early in the third quarter, the first-year coach switched to a trapping defense and caught Maine West off guard. Deerfield forced three straight turnovers that resulted in baskets or free throws.

“We sped up the game with the three-quarters trap,” Sacks said. “That got us back in the game.”

Recap: Deerfield traveled to Chicago on Saturday and came away with a 51-43 victory over Lincoln Park. The Warriors trailed 26-21 at halftime, but made a big rally in the second half, shooting over 53 percent from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-point range in the final two quarters.

Sacks led Deerfield with 20 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, three of which were behind the arc.

Alfieri scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Porter added 10 points.

Mack Watts scored nine points to go along with three assists and two steals.

On the schedule: Deerfield will have a key contest at Glenbrook North on Friday (7:30 p.m.). The Spartans lead the Central Suburban League North with a 4-2 record, tied with Highland Park. Deerfield, Niles North and Maine West have 3-3 records with only four league games remaining on the schedule.