Jeremiah Fleming steps up, helps Panthers to win in DVC opener

CAROL STREAM – With Pasquale Fiduccia sidelined because of a wrist injury, Glenbard North boys basketball coach Joe Larson talked about other players needing to step up.

Senior guard Jeremiah Fleming answered the call in the Panthers' DuPage Valley Conference opener
Friday.

Matching teammate Chip Flanigan with a game-high 29 points, Fleming knocked down seven 3-pointers, helping Glenbard North to an 84-76 win against Naperville North.

“In the six years I’ve been the head coach, I’ve never had someone hit seven 3s,” Larson said. “But we’ve seen that from him in the summertime and in practice. He had a good game against Glenbard West; he had 20 points in that one and hit six 3s. He can get hot and our guys know that. When he is hot, they keep feeding him the ball.”

For a team that has aspirations of competing for the conference crown, getting out to a fast start was paramount.

“It was a good win,” the coach said. “We played a good team in Naperville North. I thought our guys played really well. We came out with a lot of energy to start the ballgame and sustained that the rest of the night.”

The Panthers, who improved to 4-1 with the win, have now scored 60 or more points in four of their five games, with the 84 points a season-high.

“Offensively, we did a good job moving the basketball,” Larson said. “We were dishing it to guys who were open.

“And Chip had a really good third quarter. He had 16 points in the third to help keep our lead.”

Next up for Glenbard North is a home game against Lake Park on Friday.

The Lancers joined the DVC this year, taking the spot of West Chicago. While this will be the first conference clash for the Panthers and Lancers, the two teams met in a non-conference game last year with the Panthers prevailing.

“They are a solid team, a good team,” Larson said. “We are looking forward to another challenge. [Lake Park] played well in their Thanksgiving tournament, so we will have to be ready to go.”