North Chicago outscores Hoveydai, Vernon Hills

Darren Hoveydai’s career-best scoring effort wasn’t enough for Vernon Hills’ boys basketball team against North Chicago on Saturday night.

Hoveydai wasn’t even the high scorer in the North Suburban Prairie Division game.

The senior guard tossed in 32 points, but Illinois State-bound Aaron Simpson poured in 22 of his game-high 33 points in the second half, leading the Warhawks past the visiting Cougars 77-65.

Hoveydai helped Vernon Hills (4-4, 1-1) stick with North Chicago (5-1, 3-0) for a half. The score was tied 36-36 at halftime.

“My shots were just going in,” said Hoveydai, who shot 9 of 11 from the field, including a couple of 3-pointers, and went 12 of 12 from the line. “That’s a part of it. You have to handle the ball on offense.”

Simpson took the game into his own hands at the start of the second half, creating multiple turnovers and creating plenty of offense. The Warhawks took advantage by scoring 5 unanswered points and outscored the Cougars 24-10 to lead 60-46 by the end of the quarter.

“I thought I had to pick things up,” said Simpson, who scored 15 points in the third. “I play hard and the rest of the team plays hard. It was all defense.”

Vernon Hills couldn’t knock down the double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.

“If we ever deserved to lose, this was the night,” North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman said. “We played with no intensity and (Vernon Hills) out-hustled us. (Vernon Hills) was prepared for us and for the game. ... My guys have to take games more seriously.”

Stephen Curry (10 points) was Vernon Hills’ only other double-digit scorer.

“We were real positive at halftime going into the locker room,” Vernon Hills coach Matt McCarty said. “The first half was great for us. The third quarter, I could see the frustration coming from our guys. We have to handle the pressure and not let it get to our heads.”