Cook basketball notes: Palatine, Rolling Meadows will meet for MSL title
It will be a rematch for the Mid-Suburban title Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Palatine.
The host Pirates will take on Rolling Meadows for the second year in a row. Lat year, Palatine won its first MSL title in 30 years when it beat Rolling Meadows on the Mustangs’ court 54-52.
According to prep guru Marty Maciaszek, this will be the fifth time in MSL history there has been a conference rematch. The last time was in 2007 and 2008 when Conant swept Buffalo Grove in back-to-back seasons.
“We’re one of the few conferences that’s avoided realignment through the years, so the tradition and history of the MSL is something we don’t take lightly,” Palatine coach Eric Millstone said. “We also understand that we’re representing the West, so we want to do our side of the division justice. To be able to run it back against a program like Meadows, it will be fun.”
Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich and his program is no stranger the MSL title game. The Mustangs have now won the East title four consecutive times, going 39-1 in the process.
“Obviously, we have had some great players which is the reason why we have been fortunate to be on this run,” Katovich said. “We are very excited for this group as it is their first opportunity to play in this game. Out of the 17 players on the team, only four were on the varsity last year, so it is very exciting for our kids.
Meadows (21-8, 9-1) starts all juniors. They are led by D-1 recruit and three-year starter Ian Miletic (20 ppg). Jack Duffer (13 ppg), Lazar Lazarevic (10 ppg), Gavin Escobedo (6 ppg) and Jaeden Warrener (6 ppg) round out a solid top five.
“It is always a privilege to represent the MSL East,” said Ktaovich, who is 1-2 in the previous three games.
“Every team in our division is so well coached that it is always a tough road to get here. Also, we have such a unique situation in that our conference has been together for so long. It makes this game such a great tradition. All the other players and coaches come to watch, and it really shows you what a great and tradition-filled conference the MSL is.”
Palatine won a share of the MSL West title last Friday when the Pirates beat Barrington 57-49. The two teams had split their regular season games, with Barrington winning 45-43 back in December. Thus, Palatine earned its second consecutive MSL championship trip due to point differential between the teams.
“It makes you really appreciate and respect the grind of a conference season,” Palatine coach Eric Millstone said. “You spend a whole season trying to get to this point, but your thoughts are always on the next task at hand. We got a little chance to catch our breath after Friday, but then it was immediately on to Meadows.”
The Pirates are led by seniors Connor May (18.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Tommy Elter (7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.2 apg), sophomore Tony Balanganayi (7.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and juniors Carter Monroe (7.3 ppg) and Darrin Dick (6.0 ppg).
Leyden has best season in nearly 30 years
Leyden is currently 22-7. The Eagles are in the midst of their best season since 1995-95 when the Eagles went 24-4.
Leyden will have an opportunity to possibly tie or eclipse that win mark with at least three games remaining on their schedule. They played at Proviso East Tuesday night, are at Mather on Wednesday and they open state tournament play next Wednesday against host Lane.
“This team has been an absolute pleasure to coach,” Leyden coach Bill Heisler said. “The senior leadership has been outstanding, and seeing the kids embrace their roles and excel in them has been rewarding. It is an exceptional group of young men who have excelled in the classroom and on the court.”
Drelyn Jones leads the Eagles averaging 22 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, and four steals. Mike Medious is averaging 12.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg while Nick Gattuso, who has returned form a concussion, is averaging 10 ppg.
The Eagles have had solid role players as well in Israel Rodriguez (9 ppg), Szymon Wojtasik (5 rpg, 3.5 steals), Noah Schmitt, Louis Regalado, and Jack Tinajero.
Sectional seeds
Despite their success, Leyden had trouble with coming up with a solid sectional seed. The Eagles, who will play in the Maine South section, are a 9-seed. That despite having better records than 8th-seeded Niles West (20-10), 7th seeded Lane (19-11) or 6th-seeded Evanston (19-10).
“We know the top of our sectional is very good,” Heisler said. “We also know the middle group from about 6 to 12 is dangerous. There are no free passes at this level. So, we are very proud of the season we have had, and we will be very ready to go and compete.”
The IHSA sent almost the entire Mid-Suburban League to the Elgin sectional. Only Elk Grove was not assigned there with the Grenadiers at the Addison Trail sectional.
Seeds were announced last Thursday, after being voted upon earlier in the week. The pairings, which came out Friday afternoon, just before game results from that evening could have shaken them up a bit.
Barrington is the top seed in the sectional and will play at Dundee-Crown. Meanwhile, Palatine, which beat Barrington on Friday, received the second seed. They will play in the Conant sectional.
Prospect received the fifth seed while Rolling Meadows got the sixth seed. Prospect lost last Friday at Buffalo Grove and the Knights now have a rematch in the state playoffs at Prospect next Wednesday.
Meadows will now travel to Lake Zurich where they could meet the third-seeded Bears.
Maine South, which will host the sectionals, opens their regional play at Glenbrook South. Maine South will play Evanston.
Maine East will host their own regional. The Blue Demons will play Niles West with top-seeded Loyola looming for the winner.
Maine West has a play on game on Monday with Senn. The winner will play Tuesday at Lane against Glenbrook North.
In 3A, St. Viator will host the sectional. The Lions, who are the seventh seed, will need to beat Vernon Hills and then most likely second-seeded Lake Forest to get back home.
Hupp honored
Hersey’s Jackson Hupp had quite a weekend.
The junior scored a career-high 40 points in Friday’s win over Elk Grove. Along the way that evening, Hupp, who has been a three-year member of the Huskies’ varsity, scored his 1,000th career point.
Hupp, whose team played on Saturday, currently has 1,031 points. He is eighth on the all-time scoring in Hersey history and just one of nine Huskie players to break the 1,000-point mark.
In honor of that achievement, Hersey honored Hupp before Saturday's game. Also in attendance were four of the 1,000-point club at Hersey.
Dave Gilbreth, class of 1981 and Hersey’s all-time leading scorer, played for four years at Butler and scored 1,536 points.
Dave Corzine, ’74, is second on that list with 1,440 points. Corzine played for DePaul and then played 13 years in the NBA, including 9 for the Chicago Bulls.
Andy Pancratz, ’72, also played at DePaul. Pancratz scored 1,230 points and is third.
Luke Fabrizius, 2008, is sixth all-time with 1,158 points and played four years at Dayton.
Also on hand was Don Rowley, who was head coach for Hersey for 18 years and a current assistant to Dave Hess. Rowley is an IHSA Hall of Fame coach and the all-time coaching leader with 290 wins.