Grayslake North stands tall opposite Ruhlmann, Grayslake Central
Way back when, before he had the 6-foot-3 frame and grown-man's beard, Sam Ruhlmann played plenty of basketball against Bobby Krebs.
"I think I played more one on one with him than anyone else back in grade school," Ruhlmann said.
Tuesday night, the old St. Gilbert schoolmates met up on a varsity basketball court in Grayslake again. Ruhlmann might never have been better.
But Krebs and Grayslake North have never been better than they have been this season and showed it again, pulling away from host Grayslake Central to capture a 69-54 win, despite Ruhlmann's career-high 32 points.
"He's been one of my best friends since grade school," Krebs said. "I love playing against him. We talk a little bit, get some laughs in there. It's fun."
Grayslake North, which hadn't played in eight days, improved to 16-2 and 6-1 in the Fox Valley Fox Division, while cooling off Grayslake Central (11-8, 4-4), which had won four in a row and seven of eight.
The Rams, who lost to the Knights 77-60 on Dec. 9, had only three players score.
"We had been getting a lot more balanced scoring and playing a lot better defense," said Grayslake Central coach Kosta Kougias, who also got 12 points from point guard Sidney Goodman and 10 from center Jack Beckman (8 rebounds). "I thought tonight we did a nice job at times defensively, but (Grayslake North) just beats you down the floor so fast with that transition. You try to practice it, but we don't necessarily have the quickness that they have."
Floor-leader Jamal Thomas had 30 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds to lead Grayslake North. Aidan Einloth, who had barely practiced in the last week due to an ankle injury, added 16 points and 10 rebounds. James Connolly also scored 16 points for the Knights, who needed a big fourth quarter to overcome the inspired play of Ruhlmann.
Ruhlmann shot 14 of 23 from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers, went 2 of 3 from the line and also grabbed 6 rebounds.
"I was talking to him (during the game)," Krebs said. "He said (jokingly), 'Don't worry. This is all luck.' "
The 6-foot Krebs was unlucky. He not only had to guard the much-taller Ruhlmann all night but he also rolled his ankle late in the opening half.
"(Ruhlmann) made Bobby work," Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh said. "This is going to sound weird: But I thought Bobby actually played better defense in the second half than in the first half, when he was out of position a few times. He made Sam earn everything. I'm proud of Bobby. He wasn't even sure he could go (in the second half because of the ankle). You could see him grimacing up and down the court. But he didn't come out."
Ruhlmann's 3-pointer ended the first half, giving him 14 points and getting Grayslake Central within 33-23. He then scored 9 more points in the third and fed Goodman for a 3 to beat the buzzer, cutting the Rams' deficit to 43-41. But Grayslake North got 6 quick points to start the fourth, as Krebs (5 points) hit a shot, Thomas scored in transition and Einloth put back a miss.
Thomas kept the Rams at bay the rest of the way, going 8 of 8 from the line (9 of 10 for the game).
"The last few games he hadn't been shooting quite as well (from the line). He was almost 90 percent," Grunloh said. "He's been putting in extra time at practice. We reminded him right before we got on the bus. We said, 'You were 12 of 12 (against Grayslake Central) the last time. We might need every one of those again.' "
Ruhlmann, who had a 28-point game against Marmion early in the season, tried to make sure of it. He scored 9 points in the fourth.
"At the end of the day, we couldn't stop them in transition," Ruhlmann said of the Knights. "That's what really hurt us. We're a big rebounding team, but when they have two guys at half-court the second their point guard Jamal gets the ball, it's really hard to stop it. They're just fast."