Bell, yes: Rams roll past Gordon Tech

Brian Moe was dressed for success - unprecedented success.

And for as sharp as Grayslake Central's coach looked in his brand-new, light-green dress shirt, which was complemented by a diagonally striped tie, his boys basketball team looked equally crisp on the court.

"You'll probably see this shirt again on Friday," Moe said after his Rams defeated Gordon Tech's Rams 74-55 in their Class 3A sectional semifinal at North Chicago on Wednesday night.

"We'll get my wife to wash it."

Grayslake Central's sparkling effort gave the Rams their first sectional win in school history, hiked their record to 21-9 and earned them a berth in Friday's 7:30 p.m. sectional final against host North Chicago (23-5).

"It feels real good," said guard Tavaris Bell, who was one of the unlikely heroes with 8 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, during the momentum-swinging second quarter. "I like to see the smiles on the seniors' faces."

Bell, who finished with 11 points coming off the bench and was one of four Grayslake Central players in double figures, is one of those seniors. A transfer from Waukegan, he's been slowed this season by a knee injury and has "struggled," Moe said, during the season.

With the score tied 17-17 after one quarter, Bell asserted himself in the second quarter. After a steal and layup by Mike Brumm (14 points) snapped the tie, Brumm fed Bell for a 3. The 5-foot-9 Bell then snared one of his 5 rebounds, came down the court and sank a pull-up jumper to cap a 7-0 run.

His second 3, with 47 seconds left in the half, extended the lead to 36-23.

"Tavaris stepped up big tonight," said Alex Anderson, who led the winners with 19 points. "He made some jump shots I didn't even know he could make. I was pretty impressed with him."

"I don't want to go home," Bell, who missed only 1 of his 5 shots, explained of his performance. "We got a lot of seniors and we want it real bad."

Anderson scored 7 points in the second quarter in which Grayslake Central outscored Gordon Tech 21-7. Josh Rappaport, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, had 5 points in the period.

"We picked up our defensive intensity and we were able to get more shots at the basket," said Anderson, whose 5-of-6 shooting from the floor exemplified his team's marksmanship, as Grayslake Central shot 16 of 28 in the first half.

Gordon Tech (11-18) never got closer than 10 points after halftime and trailed 52-38 entering the fourth quarter.

The Chicago Catholic League member was led by reserve Matt Olivera's 18 points and 6 rebounds. Alex Vogdanos (three 3s) and Ray Lichter added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Gordon Tech played without athletic guard Martell Moore.

"That really hampered them," Moe said. "They had only one guy that could really handle the ball."

Gordon Tech first-year coach Shay Boyle had nothing but positive things to say about the "other" Rams, who also got 9 rebounds and 7 points from Kevin O'Rourke.

"Those guys look like they've been playing together since fifth grade," Boyle said.

"They know each other, they trust each other.

"We play, I think, in the best league in the country. That team is as good as any team we've seen all year."