Glenbrook North wins 'Showdown' vs. Warren

After exiting the Welsh-Ryan Arena court, Alex Dragicevich received a bear hug from injured teammate Tyler Ponticelli while Glenbrook North's student fans, including the guys wearing the "Ketchup" and Mustard" costumes, gave their classmate a rousing ovation.

Truth be told, Dragicevich and his teammates were the real attraction and were that impressive against Warren in the 14th annual McDonald's City-Suburban Showdown played on Northwestern University's campus.

Led by Dragicevich's 31 points, including four 3-pointers, Glenbrook North pulled away for a 70-62 win Saturday night.

It capped quite a weekend for Glenbrook North (16-4), which wrapped up the Central Suburban League North Division championship Friday night.

"We've had some tough losses this year," said Dragicevich, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound junior guard. "It really means a lot to us when we can go on a big stage and get a big win against a top team, and take that into the playoffs."

And while Dragicevich thinks his team hasn't always received the respect it's deserved, Warren coach Chuck Ramsey was thoroughly impressed with the Spartans, whom he also watched defeat Maine East 74-67 Friday night. The Spartans have played all season without the 6-7 veteran Ponticelli.

"You play these games to learn, I think," Ramsey said after his Blue Devils fell to 17-5 with their fourth loss in six games. "I hope our guys learn from playing Glenbrook North - how hard they play and how efficient they are on offense. They had very few bad possessions. And they screen the heck out of you, legally.

"They move the ball," Ramsey added. "They're hard to guard. They run the best motion offense that I've seen in a while - probably since they had (Jon) Scheyer (now at Duke)."

Warren's star, Brandon Paul, finished with a team-high 18 points, but had only 4 after halftime. He made 6 of 9 shots, including 2 of 4 from three-point range, in the first half. But in the second half, Spartans coach Dave Weber assigned his son, 6-4 junior Austin, to guard Warren's Illinois-bound senior.

Paul had only 1 field goal in the second half - on an offensive rebound.

"He came in (to the locker room) and he's just like, 'You have go guard Brandon Paul,' " Austin Weber, who played his freshman year at Grant, said of his dad. "He just told me what I need to do - stay tight to him."

Glenbrook North led 36-34 at the break and was up 49-44 after three. Dragicevich, who sank a 3 in each quarter, scored 9 points in the fourth in helping the Spartans extend their lead to double digits. His 2 free throws with 1:15 left made it 70-55.

"He's a great player," Dave Weber said. "He's so versatile. He's hard to guard because he goes inside, he shoots the 3 and he's a great ballhandler."

Michael Phillips (14 points, two 3s) also scored in double figures for Glenbrook North. Austin Weber and Connor Nass added 9 and 8 points, respectively.

"We take a lot of pride in winning," said Dragicevich, who shot 10 of 17 from the floor and 7 of 7 from the stripe. "I wanted to win this game really badly, and I felt really comfortable with the ball in my hands."

James Poliquin added 12 points for Warren. David Duncan, who missed the Blue Devils' last two games due to illness and an infection on his knee, scored 5 points.

"We just weren't as quick," Duncan said.

"It looked like they were just driving by us and getting easy layups. We just weren't as fast tonight."