Naperville North falls at inaugural MLK Trojan Shootout
The inaugural MLK Trojan Shootout on Monday at Timothy Christian drew college coaches, a lot of Davidsons and much firepower.
Unfortunately for Naperville North some of that firepower exploded at the wrong time.
In the last of four games in Elmhurst, the Huskies cut a 10-point third-quarter deficit to 2 against Marian Catholic entering the fourth quarter. After the break Marian junior guard Ahron Ulis converted a three-point play and immediately stole the ball back for a layup to set the Huskies back.
From there Marian Catholic rolled to a 52-36 victory.
"We kind of talked in the locker room, we said we had to get together, and it showed in that third quarter, we cut the lead to 2," said Huskies senior Tom Welch, who scored 8 points with 8 rebounds. "Something was rolling. But they changed what they were doing to (adjust) to our success and we just couldn't really get out of that last hole."
After an odd start, Marian Catholic (19-3) leading 5-2 after one quarter, Naperville North (11-8) trailed 21-7 late in the second. With Ulis scoring 24 points and Chris White playing Welch tough in a battle of 6-foot-7 forwards, that was hard to shake.
"Marian Catholic's not the kind of team that you can be chasing 10 points early against," said Huskies coach Gene Nolan.
Naperville North committed 21 turnovers but only 2 in the third quarter when they made their move. Riley Thompson helped spur the rally with a big 3 and half his team-high 14 points. Zeke Williams' layup pulled Naperville North within 31-29 entering the fourth. Williams joined Welch with 8 points for the game.
"Then we sped it up a little bit, and it helped," said Spartans coach Mike Taylor.
The event drew Loyola coach Porter Moser, Northwestern coach Chris Collins, Benedictine's Frank Janczak and coaches from Lipscomb and Belmont universities, likely interested in Aurora Christian's Will Wolfe. The Eagles' 6-7 junior forward did not disappoint.
Wolfe scored a season-high 30 points in Aurora Christian's 68-43 win over host Timothy Christian (12-8). Like Ulis, Wolfe had a couple big quarters, scoring 13 in the first quarter and 9 in the third to propel Aurora Christian (18-4) along with Taaj Davis and Jaehshon Thomas.
"I just had to try and get what I could and just help my team win," Wolfe said, modestly, after adding 8 rebounds and 2 steals.
Timothy Christian's Josh Harris scored 10 points and point guard Matt Owens scored 8, but Owens' early foul trouble and Aurora Christian's transition game didn't allow the Trojans to find a rhythm.
"We never really gave them much of a game because we weren't really willing to fight on both sides," said Trojans coach Scott Plaisier.
Hope Academy beat Yorkville's Parkview Christian 62-41 in the first game, with former Aurora Christian coach Don Davidson leading Parkview.
Marc Davidson, one of Don's sons, led Indiana's Blackhawk Christian to an 80-78 win over Orr. Timothy Christian superintendent Matt Davidson, another of Don's sons, spearheaded the event along with athletic director Jack LeGrand and Plaisier.