Ah, Bach: Soccer standout Eli Bach is good late in basketball games for Lincoln-Way West. Why? ‘I’m already in shape.’

Lincoln-Way West’s Eli Bach feels he is at his best at the end of games.

When just a couple minutes remain and the junior guard has spent nearly the entire time on the court, others may be tired, but Bach spent the whole fall preparing for this.

That’s because he also plays soccer.

“After soccer season, I’m already in shape doing all that running,” Bach said. “I could run up and down the court all day. I feel like my legs could go for two games.”

Bach showed off his late-game strength again Wednesday night, scoring 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the host Warriors rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit for a 60-53 win over Joliet Central.

Bach also pulled down seven rebounds for Lincoln-Way West (9-11). Tyler Gabriel scored 15 points, while Nathan Passas and Jacob Bereza each finished with nine points. Passas added 11 rebounds.

Zion Kostyra and Isaiah Molette scored 14 points apiece for Joliet Central (5-18).

Bach scored just two points in the first half as the Warriors were completely out of sorts, falling behind 36-24 at halftime.

Lincoln-Way West coach Tanner Mitchell, though, was not surprised to see a different Bach emerge down the stretch.

“First and foremost, Eli’s a competitor,” Mitchell said. “He’s a kid who doesn’t like to lose. He’s a very good athlete. When he gets in one of those modes and on one of those rolls, he just kind of goes. He can get hot like that.”

The Warriors were still down 42-33 after three quarters but Bach scored the first four points of the fourth. He later converted on a drive to pull his team within 46-44.

Gabriel hit a big 3-pointer and Bereza gave Lincoln-Way West the lead for good, scoring on a drive that made it 51-49 with 2:35 to go. Bach hit five free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.

“I feel like I can deliver when it’s needed,” Bach said. “It showed (Wednesday). Me and Tyler picked it up, scored the ball. That’s what we needed to do.”

Gabriel added nine points in the fourth quarter but said defense was the bigger key.

“Shots weren’t falling and they finally started to fall,” Gabriel said, “but we needed to pick up the defensive intensity.”

Bach, who hit a buzzer-beater in a victory over Homewood-Flossmoor earlier in the season, has developed a reputation for late-game heroics. Gabriel knows the Warriors can turn to Bach.

“He can get it going just like that,” Gabriel said. “A little stretch, he can get hot. We just have to keep feeding him and trusting him.”

Bach, who has played on the varsity since he was a freshman, has learned a lot over the years.

“Every day since freshman year, I’ve been seeing these bigger guys and seeing that speed of play,” Bach said. “I’ve had to create my shot around bigger guys and faster guys. Now I feel like I know what to do with the ball. I know how to find my shot and get other guys the ball, too.

“Last year, I was more of a pass-first guy. This year, I’m looking to get my shot and also move the ball.”

The Warriors entered on a three-game losing streak and seemed to be headed for a fourth straight defeat but rose to the occasion late.

“It was about effort, motivation, intensity,” Mitchell said. “We came out in the first half sleepwalking, and I don’t understand why, but in a long season sometimes you get those halves.

“We got on them a little bit at halftime about effort and intensity. To my players’ credit, they really responded in that second half.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.