Kessel, Boyle have jerseys retired as Mundelein wins
Kyle Kessel, Class of 1994.
Greg Boyle (’77).
Mundelein High School hoops greats, both of them.
Each wore jersey No. 14. Each wore out prep foes – and more than a few nets.
The school retired the number Friday night, at the half of the Stevenson-Mundelein boys basketball game.
“When you learn about the past at Mundelein, it helps you in the present,” said present Mustangs star Robert Knar, a sophomore guard. “Greg Boyle, wow, a Parade All-American. And Kyle Kessel … I’d heard of him for years, his great moves, his scoring (1,920 career points).”
Fourteen also was a prominent number in the game Friday night. Mundelein held the visiting Patriots to that total in the first half en route to a 58-49 victory in the North Suburban Conference Lake Division tilt.
Knar (game-high 24 points) scored 14 of his team’s 26 points before the break.
“Our best half of basketball, defensively,” the 6-footer said. “We had a great practice (Thursday), after all that snow the previous two days. We were afraid — afraid we’d be dead in practice, winded. But it was good in practice. All good.”
It was all Stevenson (9-11, 3-7) for most of the third quarter. The Pats tallied nine of the first 10 points in the frame and trailed only 34-32 after three quarters. Stevenson junior guard Michael Fleming netted 7 of his team-high 21 points.
“Mike hit some nice shots for us,” Patriots coach Pat Ambrose said. “We came out more aggressively, with more fire in the third quarter. I liked our heart, our passion. It wasn’t anything I said at the half; I didn’t deliver a Knute Rockne speech. I did a lot of asking and imploring and begging.”
Mundelein (22-4, 7-3) regained control at the outset of the final quarter, getting 5 points (trey, field goal) from Knar in a 23-second span and a 3-pointer from sophomore forward Sean O’Brien.
In between?
A bucket by Mustangs senior forward Ryan Sawvell (16 points, 10 boards), thanks to a deft alley-oop dish by senior guard Charlie Gandolfi.
The hosts led 46-34 with 4:37 left.
Pat senior guard Ryan Chapman (6 points, 5 boards) hit a field goal at 1:25, paring Mundelein’s gap to 52-44.
Next, the dagger: O’Brien, parked in 3-point land, shoved a blurry pass to a slashing Knar, who hit a twisting layup while getting fouled. He then made the freebie. Mundelein was up by 11, at 1:13.
“Sean is a great passer; he has great instincts,” said Knar.
Junior forward Colby Cashaw finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Stevenson.
Swan sings: Stevenson assistant coach Paul Swan praised Kessel’s prep career before Friday night’s game.
“Such a smart, crafty player,” Swan recalled. “And he didn’t mind if he didn’t score. Didn’t mind at all. Winning mattered to him.
“Playing against him,” he added, “was a pain for us — for four years.”
Kessel ranks second all-time in career assists (IHSA).