Boys basketball notes: Stevenson making its move in NSC race; Grayslake Central on top of NLCC
The North Suburban Conference boys basketball title race is just that at the moment — a race to the finish line.
Stevenson (17-8, 8-2), winners of 5 in a row and 8 of its last 9, held a half-game lead over Waukegan (7-2 NSC) earlier this week. The Patriots defeated Waukegan at home recently on Atticus Richmond’s offensive putback as time expired. Stevenson also won at Mundelein.
“There is a long way to go,” Stevenson coach Will Benson cautioned.
Lake Forest, which lost to Stevenson 41-38 Tuesday, is 6-4 and Warren sits at 5-4.
Aidan Bardic (13.2 points, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals), Richmond (9.2 rebounds) and Donny Williams (team-leader in 3s made) lead the way statistically for Benson’s squad.
“Donny doesn’t get as much credit for whatever reason, but he has been consistently very, very good lately,” Benson said. “He scores, takes care of the ball and defends really well. I am not sure he has been off the court very often lately because he’s played so well.”
Ball distribution was a key tenet for the Patriots in that big win over Waukegan, Benson emphasized.
“We shared the ball in beating Waukegan better than we have all year and we have been more consistent lately, which is why we’ve had more success,” Benson said.
Antioch update: The Northern Lake County Conference also has quite the scurrying to the finish line in progress. Grayslake Central was 9-1 in conference earlier this week with Grant and Antioch (10-12 overall) tied for second at 7-3. Grayslake North was 6-4.
The Sequoits are 6-5 over their last 11 with a stat line, coach Sean Connor pointed out, of L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W-W.
Teddi Wetu leads the Sequoits in scoring (15 points) and assists (3 per game), while Jason Lee brings in 8 rebounds a game and is shooting 60% from the field. Lee is averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds during a recent 5-game stretch, including an 11-point, 17-rebound outing against Wauconda and a 17-point, 10-rebound performance against Rockford Boylan.
Connor also likes how Mark Render has been playing. He had 14 points in a recent game against a Kankakee team that is ranked in the top five in the state. “Mark has moved to coming off the bench and is providing a scoring boost,” he said.
Connor pointed out Antioch sat in the same position a year ago when it comes to the conference race.
“We were in the same position with 3 losses and won out to tie for the conference,” he said. “We hope to be playing our best basketball in February.”
Carmel update: The Corsairs split a pair of games with Marian Catholic (a loss in East Suburban Catholic action) and Lake Park (nonconference win). Carmel started the week 9-15 overall.
Ethan Matz hit for 28 points in the Marian game, including 19 points in the fourth quarter.
“Ethan is really stepping it up lately,” Carmel coach Mike Wasielewski said.
Matz also had 13 points against Lake Park and went 6-for-6 from the foul line down the stretch to ice the win.
Grant update: Here’s a neat stat: the Bulldogs are 9-4 in single-digit ballgames this season. “This has been a strong, disciplined team,” coach Wayne Bosworth said. “It’s a big reflection of our senior leadership on this team.”
Grant (14-8, 7-3) is 9-2 over its last 11 and remains in the thick of the NLCC race.
Braylon Gray, Damarrion Smith and Charles Schlicht continue to lead Grant in scoring in rebounding, while Bosworth noted Matt Leclear, Brandon Wolkowitz and Cameron Houghton have done a great job defensively for our team and bought into very important supportive roles.
Grayslake North update: The Knights started the week winners of 3 of their last 5, including important conference wins against Grant, Antioch and Lakes. North is 14-11 overall and 6-4 in the NLCC.
Jayden Hunt (17 points, 4.1 assists), Uros Mitrovic (14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Tyler Morgan (4.7 rebounds) are excelling, as is senior Chris Von Briesen, coach Josh Feinzimer pointed out.
“Chris has stepped it up all season,” he said. “Although his numbers don’t jump out at you from a stats page, he is our glue and energy guy day in and day out. He can defend all five positions and is our leader on both ends of the court. He knows all 5 positions on the offensive end and is our main voice in the huddle and loudest voice on the court. He has been instrumental in some big wins this season with his energy and intensity on both ends of the court. His attitude is second to none. He lifts guys up when they are struggling and keeps the group laser-focused at all times. We would truly be lost without Chris’ leadership and efforts this season.”
Grayslake Central update: The Northern Lake County frontrunners (18-7 overall, 9-1 conference) are 8-2 since a loss to Grant on Jan. 11, with the only setbacks to Maine South (by 4) and Deerfield (by 5). Central also has won 3 consecutive road NLCC games against Wauconda, Lakes and Grayslake North. Central heads to Antioch Friday.
Chris Jaimes (16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, all team highs) and Eric Brum (5 assists) lead the way for the Rams. Coach Brian Centella likes how Brum and junior guard Carson Woods have performed of late.
Brum has been averaging 6 assists against 1 turnover his past 7 games. “Eric has been playing incredible at point guard,” Centella said. “He is also an incredible on-ball defender. Carson has been rock-solid off the bench all season. His defensive toughness and sound offensive play has been an important part of our team’s success.”
Lakes update: Ben Newcomb is the statistical leader in the team’s hustle stat category (100), which is a combination of tips/deflections, floor dives, loose balls, charges taken and forced turnovers.
Jason Klimas leads Lakes in scoring (11.8 points per game) and rebounds (7 per game), while
Dorian Pullen is the team-leader in assists at 3 per game. He led the team with 12 points against Wauconda last week.
“Dorian has been playing well,” Lakes coach Chris Snyder said. “As a sophomore, he has been our point guard and in charge of getting us into our offense. He has done a great job improving throughout the season and gaining confidence. He is consistently our top assist guy.”
Snyder is happy to see Will Mercure back on the floor.
“Will got injured last spring in a pole vault accident,” he explained. “Since then, he has had to miss all of summer, fall football and basketball up until last week. Will was a great teammate the whole time and didn’t miss anything. He came to all the camps, all practices and was always around. He finally got cleared to play and has already been a big contributor for us. But more so than production on the court, him overcoming such a serious head injury and sticking with it is pretty special. It is great to see him fly around the court and compete again.”
Lakes started the week 6-15 and 3-6 in NLCC play. “Our guys have continued to stick together during this tough stretch,” Snyder said. “January was a tough month wins and losses wise, but our guys showed great fight and resilience and we learned a lot of valuable lessons we can use going forward. We are looking to finish the season strong and we keep growing and sticking together.”
Lake Zurich update: Bears coach Terry Coughlin likes what he sees in the play of Connor Strauss (11 points, 5 rebounds per game). “Connor is consistently asked to guard the other team’s best player regardless of position,” he said. “Last week, he was tasked with guarding Lake Forest’s Hudson Scroggins (6-7) and the next day guarded Glenbrook North’s point guard, who is 5-10.”
Kain Kretschmar averages 12 points and 4 rebounds, while Tyler Reed has stepped into the starting lineup and continues to improve after Tyler Olson’s injury, Coughlin noted.
Lake Zurich, which recently beat Glenbrook North on the road, is 11-13 overall and 3-6 in North Suburban action.
“We continue to play well defensively and are becoming more efficient offensively,” Coughlin said. “We have to continue to lean into our identity and improve in order to try and make a run in the state tournament.”
Libertyville update: Bryce Wegrzyn averages 21 points and 9 rebounds per game for the Wildcats (12-10, 2-6), while Liam Hanson checks in at 8.3 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, and Terrence Davis is at 7.5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
“Terrence Davis has definitely adjusted to the speed and pacing of the varsity game,” Wildcats coach Brian Zyrkowski said. “He has done a great job for us on both the defensive and offensive end of the floor.”
Libertyville recently upended Wheaton North 59-47 in a nonconference game.
Vernon Hills update: The Cougars are on a 4-game winning streak, including a recent 50-48 win against Hampshire that saw them trail by 13 in the first half. Brady Larsen fueled the comeback with a personal 8-0 run to begin the third quarter and Daniel Odhiambo had 3 offensive-rebound putbacks to put Vernon Hills (15-11, 5-3 Central Suburban North) over the hump. AJ Morgan contested a Hampshire 3 at the buzzer.
“I have really liked the scorebook in our recent win streak,” Vernon Hills coach Matt McCarty said. “We have been sharing the ball well with multiple players in double figures, and several players are very close. We hope to continue that trend.”
Morgan averages 10.5 points, while Odhiambo is at 8.1 rebounds. Tyler Perritt leads the team in scoring at 11.3 points and has returned from a 2-week injury absence.
Odihambo swatted a school-record 8 blocked shots in a recent game against Niles West. “Daniel continues to control the paint with his ability to change shots and block shots,” Vernon Hills coach Matt McCarty said.
Jeremy Zamost leads the team in free-throw shooting at 73%. “It’s nice to have the ball in his hands late in games,” McCarty said. “He plays nearly every minute of every game at point guard. Jeremy is a bundle of energy and does a nice job taking control of the team when our opponents press or pressure us.”
Warren update: The Blue Devils (17-8, 5-4 North Suburban) have recent wins against Bolingbrook, Zion and Thornton.
Jaxson Davis averages 21.2 points per game, while Javerion Banks is at 12.4 points and Zach Ausburn averages 11.1 points. Coach Zack Ryan pointed out Banks is back at full strength after missing most of the season.
“We have played a tough schedule and are looking forward to being at full strength,” Ryan said.
Wauconda update: Wauconda (8-17, 5-5 NLCC) has won 5 of its last 7 games with the only losses to Barrington and Lake Forest Academy. During a 3-game winning streak, the Bulldogs beat league foes Lakes, Antioch and Grayslake North, all teams ahead of them in the standings.
Tony Salemi (14.8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Alex Ortega (9.3 points, 1.8 steals), Leo Brinias (8.4 points, 1.2 steals), Nick Ori (7 points, 1.2 steals), Austin Carlsen (7 points, 5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks) and CJ Elia (3.5 rebounds) have been key contributors.
Coach Ty Weidner noted Ortega, Carlsen and Ori have had the hot hand of late. “Alex has limited his turnovers and has the ability to get into the paint and finish, go to the line and knock down free throws,” he said. “Austin has also stepped up big time, solidifying our interior defense and stretching the floor offensively. He also has a great basketball IQ. Nick has been a stud for us playing the ‘1’ defensively, His ability to defend on-ball is some of the best I have seen since Griffin Daun, and his energy is infectious and sparks us. I give this team props. They have never quit, show up every day and compete. I am so proud of these 11 dudes.”