Anderson, Rams stay hot in win over Cougars
Grayslake Central's rededication to defense has helped the Rams play some of their best basketball of the season.
Against visiting Vernon Hills on Thursday night, the Rams displayed their improved defense again, while also piling up their most points in a game in more than a month.
Alex Anderson, who might be playing his basketball of the season, led the way. The 6-foot-3 senior scored 15 of his season-high 22 points in the second quarter, as the Rams cruised to a surprisingly easy 77-41 win in nonconference play.
Grayslake Central (13-6) has won five in a row since starting the new year with an overtime loss to Crystal Lake South.
"We're playing well," coach Brian Moe said. "We refocused our defensive intensity a little bit. We had kind of gotten away from that and we were looking too much at scoring."
Against Vernon Hills (10-9), the Rams had 13 players score at least 1 point, with Josh Rappaport (13 points) and reserve David Bell (10) also scoring in double figures.
"They just bring in waves of guys that are good basketball players," Cougars coach Matt McCarty said. "They're very deep."
The Rams showed that depth when point guard Mike Brumm went to the bench early in the second quarter with 3 fouls. Brumm was called for a charge and then was whistled for a technical foul on the play. Riaz Hoveydai (team-high 16 points) hit both technical foul shots for Vernon Hills.
DaVaris Daniels then sank 2 more free throws for the Cougars, and when Art Royzengurt made another foul shot, the visitors had trimmed a 15-1 deficit to 19-15 with 5:37 left before halftime.
Cameron Nelson fed Bell for a fastbreak layup to hike the Rams' lead back to six, and then Anderson caught fire.
"I realized most of our main scorers were not on the floor," Anderson said. "We just needed to attack the basket. I happened to get the ball so I just took it and tried to put some points on the board. They were making a little run, so we had to make a little run of our own."
Anderson sank 5 of 6 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, in the final five minutes of the second quarter, giving the Rams a 36-21 lead at the break. He put together a personal 15-3 run.
"It was a great effort by Alex," Moe said. "He's very capable of that. I think early in the season he was thinking, 'I'm a senior, it's on me.' I think he's kind of relaxed these last couple of games and he's been a lot more consistent with his shot. He's playing a lot more freely, instead of trying to force things."
Indeed, Anderson, a three-year varsity starter, had his first 20-point effort of the season last week, when he netted 21 at Crystal Lake Central.
"I have been playing better these last couple of weeks," said Anderson, who finished with three 3s. "I've had a little more confidence in my shot - just stepping up and taking them. I've been getting more opportunities, getting better cuts to the basket and getting open."
Vernon Hills played without starter Chris Morgan, who is expected to be out at least two weeks after suffering damage to four teeth against North Chicago on Tuesday night.
The Cougars needed more than Morgan.
"Grayslake Central's very physical," McCarty said. "They basically out-toughed us."