I must admit that at halftime of today’s game at Lake Zurich I was unaware that I was watching a tournament semifinal. I knew it was a tournament, just didn’t know exactly how far along it was.
That’s generally the nature of the confusing Martin Luther King weekend. Some tournaments started a few days ago, some played multiple rounds today, it is all happening. There were some fun matchups today around the area.
Dom Martinelli did his thing and overall I was very impressed with Glenbrook South. The team is much stronger overall than last year. Mundelein turned in a performance rather similar to the Stevenson game. Down double digits and then a roar back at the end that falls short.
Joliet West senior Jamere Hill made an oral commitment to Toledo today, capping an amazing rise over the past two months.
100% committed @ToledoMBB pic.twitter.com/gGYQnqQ5oa
— Jamere (@JHill_15) January 18, 2020
Saturday’s top games
Rolling Meadows 64, Maine West 58: Max Christie turned in 26 points and eight rebounds and Cam Christie added 13.
Kenwood 74, Rich Central 64: I’m super confused by the Broncos’ 5-13 record. This team has some really good players, clearly things just haven’t fallen their way. Life in the Red-South/Central is rough. Darnell King had 13 points and 19 rebounds and Roland McCoy added 32 points.
Hinsdale Central 59, Wheaton North 49: This gets the raging Red Devils to .500.
New Trier 59, Oak Lawn 48: Hinsdale Central isn’t the only team turning things around in January. The Trevians gave Glenbrook South all it could handle on Friday and turn around and knock off a good Oak Lawn team just hours later. Emmett Burnside scored 12 and John Carragher added 14. Sami Osmani scored 14 for the Spartans.
Dematha, Md. 59, No. 25 Simeon 48: The Wolverines fall on the road. Ahamad Bynum had 18 points and seven rebounds and Jeremiah Williams added 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
Palatine 67, Willowbrook 55: Big Julian Campbell poured in 24 points and had 10 rebounds.
Mount Carmel 66, King 57: A nice home win for the Caravan. Deandre Craig, the star freshman, led the way with 19 points. Junior Jayden Benson added 13.
No. 2 Evanston 74, Hillcrest 69: The Wildkits are undefeated and everyone knows how good they are. Hillcrest lost this one but I think Don Houston and all the Hawks’ fans might secretly take it. They gave one of the best teams in the state a real battle. This could be a turning point for a very talented team. Jaylin Gibson scored 22 for Evanston and Isaiah Holden added 14. Mar’Keise Irving led Hillcrest with 19 and Jakobi Heady added 15.
No. 5 Homewood-Flossmoor 51, No. 19 Loyola 46: RJ Ogom scored 13 and Julian Gatewood added 11. The Vikings have played quite a schedule this season. Bennett Kwiecinski led the Ramblers with 13.
