Boys basketball notes: Lake Zurich surging in 2025; Carmel, Grant also on hot streaks

Add Lake Zurich to the list of Lake County boys basketball teams with the recent hot hands.

After a 2-6 start, the Bears have won 8 of their last 11 to sit at 10-9 overall and 3-3 in North Suburban Conference action.

Lake Zurich beat NSC foe Warren in Gurnee by a point and Palatine at home by 14 points in recent action. The Bears have not let a team score 50 points in their past 5 games, while also winning the rebounding battle, which coach Terry Coughlin noted, has allowed the team to play its best basketball of the season.

“Defensively, we are playing very well,” he said.

Tyler Olson and Evan Peterson are a pair of players who have helped with Lake Zurich’s turnaround, Coughlin noted. Olson scored in double figures three times in a recent 5-game stretch.

“Tyler has far exceeded expectations and keeps on improving and becoming more confident,” Coughlin said. “He had to step into a more significant role in the starting lineup with the departure of Anton Strelnikov and has excelled.”

Coughlin said in addition to Olson, Evan Peterson (7 points, 4.5 assists, roughly 2:1 assists to turnovers) has been instrumental as well. “Evan rarely turns the ball over, while also playing 31 minutes a game and guarding the opponents’ best perimeter player,” he said.

Kain Kretschmar leads the team in scoring (14 points to go with 4 rebounds a game), while Connor Strauss averages 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Antioch update: Senior Jason Lee averages almost a double-double (10 points and 9 rebounds). The Sequoits (7-9, 4-2 Northern Lake County) had a thrilling 43-42 win against Geneva at the Chicago Clark Martin Luther King shootout when junior Zach Kavich drained a 3 as time expired.

Lee and junior Cooper Marabella (team leader in 3-point field-goal percentage) each had 9 points in the triumph.

“Cooper has tremendously improved his defense to go along with his versatile offensive skill set,” coach Sean Connor said. “He has played all 5 positions.”

Connor noted senior Jack Majerowski “was an absolute warrior against Geneva,” he said. “His impact on the floor is rarely seen on the stat sheet.”

Carmel update: The Corsairs played in the Wheaton Warrenville South MLK shootout and went 1-2, “but had a good showing and played tough,” coach Mike Wasielewski said.

Carmel started the season 0-9, but has gone 7-4 since Christmas break to move to 7-13 overall (0-4 East Suburban Catholic).

Ethan Henderson, a 6-6 senior, averages 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, while Ethan Matz, a 6-3 junior, averages 13.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

Grant update: The Bulldogs continue to have the red-hot hand in Lake County, winners of 7 in a row and 11 of their last 13 games to move to 12-6 overall and 5-1 in Northern Lake County action. Grant is tied with Grayslake Central for first place in the NLCC. The two teams meet again in February at Grayslake (Grant won the first meeting in Fox Lake).

The guard trio of Damarrion Smith (14 points per game), Braylon Gray (13 points) and Charles Schlicht (13 points) lead Grant in scoring and each averages around 5 rebounds a game. “They have become a strong trio of guards,” coach Wayne Bosworth said.

Bosworth added that while 4-year varsity veteran Braylon Gray always will be the leader and tone-setter for the Bulldogs, Smith, a junior, and Schlicht, a sophomore, also have excelled since team MVP and returning all-conference pick Landon Enters was lost for the season in December due to injury. “Damarrion and Charles have done a great job stepping into larger roles and have become very strong players in this conference,” he said.

Bosworth also lauded the work of Matt Leclear, Brandon Wolkowitz and Cam Houghton.

Grayslake Central update: After that loss in Fox Lake to Grant in NLCC play, Central racked up recent road wins against Wauconda and Libertyville and lost to Maine South at the Geneva MLK to sit at 12-6 overall.

Eric Brum, who had 8 assists against Maine South, leads the Rams in assists (5) and steals (2), while Chris Jaimes leads Central in scoring (16 points), rebounds (8) and blocks (2 per game).

Coach Brian Centella also had high praise for Aayan Siddiqui, and junior starters Cole Halverson and Alex Granville. “Aayan has been a steady presence,” he said. “He has made timely shots and has improved defensively and with his rebounding. Cole and Alex have improved throughout the season and both had great games against Libertyville.”

Grayslake North update: Two key factors in the Knights’ upswing this year have been Tyler Morgan (4.3 rebounds, second on team) and Brady Ballentine (15 points against Harvard).

“Tyler has made winning plays in some of our best wins,” coach Josh Feinzimer said. “He has improved in every major statistical category and is a great leader for us. Brady has been our most improved player and has settled into a starting role as a senior.”

North (11-9, 4-2 Northern Lake County, tied for third after a recent win against Antioch) is limiting teams to 46 points per game. Jayden Hunt leads the Knights in scoring (16 points) and assists (4 per game) and is approaching a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Uros Mitrovic averages 14 points and shoots a team-high 36% from 3, while also posting a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game.

Lakes update: Jason Klimas (team-high 12.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game) was all-tournament at the Eagles-hosted Martin Luther King tournament.

The Eagles (6-12, 3-3 Northern Lake County) have been boosted of late by the play of Brenden Ward and Carson Norris. “Brenden has stayed ready all year for his opportunity,” coach Chris Snyder said. “More importantly, he is willing to do whatever is needed and has never hung his head.”

Norris had a season-high 12 points on MLK Day Monday. “Carson is getting more confident on the court,” Snyder said. “He brings great effort every day and has fought through some tough stretches. It is great to see him see the payoff.”

Dorian Pullen averages a team-high 3.5 assists per game for the Eagles (6-12, 3-3).

Mundelein update: Coach Matt Badgley noted the Mustangs had good recent wins against Addison Trail and Lake Forest.

Badgley added Evan Salvador has been consistent throughout the season. Derek Bishop remains out after being injured in mid-December.

“We are beat up and sick — therefore inconsistent,” Badgley said.

Stevenson update: The Patriots (12-8, 4-2 North Suburban) have 5 players averaging double digits in scoring, paced by Aidan Bardic at 12.9 per game (and a team-high 4.2 assists). Atticus Richmond leads the team in rebounding at 9.2 per game.

“Atticus has stepped up since the Wheeling holiday tournament,” coach Will Benson said. “His rebounding and assist numbers have gone up and his overall defense and intensity has gone to another level.”

Liam Curtin averages 10 points and 5 rebounds, while shooting 47% from 3. “Liam has been very consistent all year,” Benson said.

Stevenson went 2-1 at the Wheaton Warrenville South MLK event, beating Metea Valley by 5, WW South by 7 and losing to Waubonsie Valley by 11. The Patriots have won 3 of their last 4 games.

Vernon Hills update: Daniel Odhiambo had 14 points and 10 rebounds in a recent nonconference game against Hoffman Estates. He’s the Cougars’ leading rebounder at 7.5 per game.

Brady Larsen had a notable recent streak where he made a 3 in 5 consecutive games.

Tyler Perritt, currently sidelined by injury, leads Vernon Hills (11-10, 3-3 Central Suburban North) in scoring at 13.5 points per game. Junior point guard Jeremy Zamost logged 12 points against Hoffman, 9 against Highland Park and had 8 in a key league win over Maine West, including a 4-for-4 effort from the foul line late that helped seal the win. “Jeremy pretty much has to play all 32 minutes,” coach Matt McCarty said. “He gives full effort and loves to compete.”

Juniors Graham Lis and Nolan Brettner are also making their presence felt. “Graham gives us a left off the bench with his 3-point shooting ability,” McCarty said. “He loves basketball and is always in the gym working on his shooting. Nolan is our Mr. Steady. He has a high basketball IQ and gives us a great lift off the bench.”

Warren update: Sophomore standout Jaxson Davis leads the Blue Devils in both scoring (21.7 per game) and assists (5.9 per game), while Zach Ausburn averages 9.5 rebounds.

Jack Wolf also has been a big factor for Warren (12-5, 4-2 North Suburban). “Jack plays great defense, leads the team in charges, is second in rebounding and third in scoring,” Warren coach Zack Ryan pointed out.

Wauconda update: The Bulldogs recorded recent wins against Round Lake and Lakes to move to 4-16 overall (1-5 NLCC). Wauconda went 1-2 at the Lakes MLK event where Tony Salemi was named to the all-tournament team (16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3 steals). Alex Ortega averaged 8.7 points during the Lakes residency.

Salemi, a junior, leads the Bulldogs in scoring (14.9 points), followed by sophomore Leo Brinias (8.8 points) and Ortega (8.5 points). CJ Elia, a senior, sophomore Austin Carlsen and junior Khalil Roberson also have had a presence on the stat sheet for the Bulldogs.

Elia, who has moved into a starting spot of late, is one of 2 seniors. “CJ shows up with a positive attitude ready to work,” Wauconda coach Ty Weidner said. “He doesn’t do the ‘flashy,’ but he is a coach’s dream and understands what we are trying to accomplish with no complaints. He’s the definition of what coaches love to see out of their seniors.”

While Wauconda only has 4 wins, Weidner has seen significant progress. “The wins haven’t been there, but they will come. We are improving every day,” he said. “We have had multiple people tell us how dangerous we will and can be down the road.”