Jan. 29--Evan Gilyard was tired of the extended buildup to the twice-postponed "Battle of Vincennes" and all the attention the other member of the rivalry has been receiving.
The Simeon junior also felt the wrong point guard has been receiving all the accolades.
Gilyard stole the show and got just enough support from his team's deep bench as No. 3 Simeon defeated No. 1 Morgan Park 60-57 in the Mustangs' tiny, jam-packed gym Thursday on the South Side.
Gilyard outscored Morgan Park star Charlie Moore 24-19 and went coast-to-coast for a key layup off a strip of the Memphis recruit with about 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining as the Wolverines (17-3, 9-1 Red South) outplayed Morgan Park (16-2, 8-1) down the stretch.
"It feels good, but me, I already know who is the best point guard," Gilyard said. "I came out and showed it and proved myself right.
"I was tired of you guys saying they are the best team in the city, and that's really not true. We had to come out here and prove it. This is not the high point. We can be way better than this."
Gilyard and Gonzaga recruit Zack Norvell (18 points) handled the bulk of Simeon's scoring, but the Wolverines also got a huge boost from an unlikely source.
Madison Lowery, who did not leave the bench in Simeon's 70-65 loss to Morgan Park on Dec. 11, scored all 10 of his personal-best points in the second half, including four of the game's final six.
The 6-foot-5 junior put Simeon ahead 56-53 with 53.5 seconds remaining. Morgan Park fought back within 58-57 on a three-point play by Jamal Burton with 34.2 showing, then twice possessed the ball with the chance to go ahead.
Burton and Moore both missed chances to give the Mustangs the lead the first time, then the Mustangs turned it over trying to get the ball to Moore. Lowery then finished them off just before the buzzer.
"I've been prepared for this moment a long time," Lowery said. "The first game, I wasn't discouraged that I didn't play at all. I just told myself when I get in the game this time to give 100 percent effort and do everything they tell me to do, and this game will go our way."
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Evan Gilyard, Simeon, 24 points, 8-13 FGs, 4 3-pointers.
Key performers: Morgan Park -- Charlie Moore, 19 points; Jamal Burton, 11 points, 5 rebounds. Simeon -- Zack Norvell, 18 points, 5 rebounds; Madison Lowery, 10 points.
