Boys basketball notes: MSL West race bunched up; red-hot St. Viator heads into important stretch
If the first half was any indication, the second half the Mid-Suburban League boys basketball schedule should be a wild ride until the final regular season conference games are completed Feb. 14.
The West division is completely wild. All six teams have an overall record above .500 and all six are ranked in the Daily Herald’s top 22.
Heading into Thursday night’s games, Fremd (18-2 overall) leads the division with a 4-1 conference mark. The Vikings are followed by defending division and defending MSL champion Palatine (12-9), which is 3-2.
Barrington (10-6) and Conant (11-9) are also 3-2 while Hoffman Estates (16-6) is 2-3 and Schaumburg (15-7) is 1-4.
“Everyone is talented,” Barrington coach Bryan Tucker said. “You have to be ready to play each night.”
The East isn’t as bunched up.
Rolling Meadows (17-3) has won the division the last four seasons and has won 44 of their last 45 conference games. The Mustangs lead the division with a 5-0 mark. Hersey (15-3), which lost Rolling Meadows two weeks ago, follows a game back at 4-1.
It goes down the line from there with Prospect (9-11) at 3-2, Buffalo Grove (7-14) follows at 2-3, then Wheeling (8-12) at 1-4 and Elk Grove (3-18) at 0-5.
Milestone for Millstone
Palatine coach Eric Millstone reached the 250-win mark when his team defeated Wheaton North 64-46 Monday. Millstone, who is in his 17th season and whose team finished fourth in 4A last year, has a career mark of 250-241.
“All that number truly means is that I’ve been coaching for a long time,” Millstone said. “I’m just grateful that I’ve worked with some great people and kids over during my time at Palatine.”
St. Viator on a streak
No team in the area is hotter than the Lions (15-5, 4-0) are right now. They have won 9 in a row and 10 of their last 11, with the only loss coming in overtime to Deerfield at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic.
“Things are clicking,” St. Viator coach Michael O’Keeffe said. “We got great senior leadership, and we've got some good young players that are mature on and off the court. They take the coaching and they play their tails off.”
St. Viator is also unbeaten in the East Suburban Catholic Conference — despite the fact the Lions do not have a player over 6-foot-2 on their roster. They are led by Henry Marshall, Brandyn Michaels, Jack Leonard, Dayvion Ellis and freshman Dawson Charles.
“It has been the issue the last three years,” O’Keeffe said. “We are always 6-2 and below. But the great thing about this year's team is they don't use that as an excuse, not only defensively, but also rebounding. You know, we really struggled. We really struggled last year, specifically rebounding, and this year really has not been an issue.”
St. Viator, which leads the ESCC, will get a huge test on Friday when they host Marist (19-2, 3-1). The Lions will also play at Benet (18-4, 3-1) the following week and still has yet to play St. Patrick (15-5, 4-1).