Hamwi helps Maine South shoot past Palatine

Palatine boys basketball coach Eric Millstone was hoping to find ways to control Maine South junior guard Essam Hamwi.

Hamwi had other plans, scoring 28 points - including eight 3s - in a 50-30 win over Palatine on the Pirates' senior night.

Maine South, which won all four of its games this week, improved to 18-6. The Pirates, still contending in the Mid-Suburban West, fell to 15-11 in the nonconference game.

"He's a great shooter," said Millstone of Hamwi. "He had 94 three-point baskets coming into the game tonight.

"He has a lot of skill. He took it to another level tonight. We lost him at times on defense, but he was really locked in."

Hamwi tied the school record for 3s in a game set by Andrew Vey in the 2011-2012 season.

Hamwi hit 3 long-range baskets in the first quarter and Maine South led 16-5. Palatine had a short-lived lead at 5-3 before the Hawks finished the last 5:48 with a 13-0 run.

Maine South extended the lead to 30-7 with 3:45 left in the first half as Hamwi hit for four 3s.

Jake Moertl (7 points), Leo Domlin and Lamon Berry (6 points) scored the final six points of the second quarter for Palatine, but the Pirates still trailed 30-13.

Palatine played fairly even with the Hawks in the second half, only being outscored 20-17.

"We just came out slow," said Johnny O'Shea who led the Pirates with 9 points. "We had some good looks at the basket, but the shots just weren't falling for us. We have to be able to play with confidence and work as a team to play better both on offense and defense."

"We saw that Palatine was looking to take away the inside game from us," said Hamwi. "My teammates were able to find me in open areas. I'm confident with shooting the 3s. I work a lot on making those shots"

Hamwi's career-high was 31 against Niles North a few weeks ago. Maine South coach Tony Lavorato says Hamwi has been consistent all year.

"He's a natural shooter. He's a basketball player," said Lavorato. "Even back in fourth grade, he always would carry a ball. He'll get bigger and stronger as time goes on. Essam is not a finished product but, it's a nice start."

Palatine won the game it needed to in the conference race against Hoffman Estates on Friday night, and Millstone hopes playing Maine South will help his team over the next two weeks of regular-season play.

"We schedule Maine South because they are well coached and disciplined," said Millstone. "To make noise in the state tournament, you have to beat times like that. We need to keep plugging away and to be able to play full games for 32 minutes."