At a crucial moment Oak Forest’s DeShawn Nolan always has an ace up his sleeve.

The 5-foot-11 senior guard can flip the switch and use his jet-speed quickness off the dribble, something that makes him hard for opponents to handle in the open space.

“I definitely feel like my speed is something I can use to my advantage,” Nolan said. “I am able to either get that separation, or if the team plays off me, that opens up my shot.”

And in this case, makes it open and shut.

Nolan came up big by scoring six of his 16 points in the fourth quarter Friday night, sparking the Bengals to a 63-61 nonconference victory over host Providence in New Lenox.

Senior guard Johnny Wiggins also scored 16 points for Oak Forest (6-5), which squandered a 13-point lead in the first half, then fought back from a seven-point deficit in the third.

Senior guard Andrew Lucas also contributed 10 points for the Bengals. Junior guard Seth Cheney scored 23 points and senior center Kyle Lipke added 12 for Providence (5-6).

Complementing Nolan, the 5-10 Wiggins scored seven points in the fourth, punctuated by a four-point play. The two close friends have similar styles and games.

“I love playing with DeShawn,” Wiggins said. “He makes playing with him so much fun because you know you are always going to get the ball.

“I like to pick him up, and he picks me up.”

Nolan, who averages 15 points a game, has a season high of 26 points. The two-year starter has learned how to balance his own scoring with the more urgent team imperatives.

“I’m able to get to the rim and score myself, but at the same time I’m able to facilitate and help my teammates,” he said. “I like that freedom.”

Nolan grew up with two brothers who are nine and six years older, respectively. As the youngest brother, he always had to work hard to prove his worth.

“Playing with them all the time made me want to follow in their footsteps,” Nolan said. “I was always around the game. It just made me gravitate toward it even more.”

Oak Forest coach TJ Cobbs said Nolan has learned how to utilize his speed and athleticism.

“He is a very hard player to guard, especially when he gets downhill with a head of steam,” Cobbs said. “He makes layups or finishes at the rim, and he does something different every single time that he plays.”

Nolan has extended his outside shot to the 3-point line, opening up new avenues of his game. The threat of that amplifies his athleticism and jolts of speed.

“His overall mindset is he knows most of the time he gets there quicker or faster than anybody,” Cobbs said. “He uses his burst to get to places on the court that most players are not able to get to.”

Nolan and Wiggins are also interchangeable, taking turns either handling or working off the ball. Nolan stepped up after Wiggins fouled out with 1:47 remaining.

Directing the attack is a very liberating action.

“Being a leader of the team is the most challenging thing because I’m trying to bring the team together,” Nolan said. “It is also the most exciting because you are the one in charge.

“You’re the one who runs the show, and that means a lot.”

Now, Nolan shifts his attention to the holiday tournaments. The Bengals play Buffalo Grove on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at Wheeling.

Christmas is the time of the basketball season when teams take stock. Nolan is ready for the next phase — to show what he’s capable of doing.

“It’s a great chance to showcase my talent and go against teams we don’t normally see,” he said. “I never heard of Buffalo Grove until now.

“I’m ready to show them my first step.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.