These days most high school basketball players consider being called a center an insult. It’s all about the three-point shot, about proving you can play on the perimeter.
The problem is that the three-point revolution has not hit high school basketball yet and it is doubtful it ever will.
That isn’t a problem at Mundelein. Scottie Ebube, a 6-8 junior, plays like a throwback. He’s proud to be a real center.
“I’ve grown up playing down low and I love playing down low,” Ebube said.
That’s clear from watching Ebube. He creates complete panic in the opposition when he catches the ball in the post.
“It’s amazing,” Mundelein junior Conor Enright said. “We just give it to him and he’s either scoring or drawing four and five guys and we are getting wide-open shots. Having him is so special.”
Enright thinks Ebube’s rare love of the post is due to one primary reason.
“Scottie just loves the energy when he dunks,” Enright said. “That is why he likes dominating down low.”
Ebube finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks and two of those dunks to lead No. 14 Mundelein to a 52-45 win against visiting No. 20 Lake Park.
The Mustangs (10-0) jumped out to 16-6 lead and threatened to run away with it early.
“It was a little extra tonight with the student sections and both teams being undefeated and just the hype around the game,” Enright said. “We came out more energized because of that.”
Enright, a Drake recruit, scored 19 points and was a monster on defense. He helped hold Lake Park star Luke Sgarbossa to 12 points. Enright is a nightmare to play against, diving on the ground regularly and slapping at the mere sight of a poorly-protected ball.
“I just love playing defense,” Enright said. “I’m all over the place. Everyone else was on lock so it was easy to guard [Sgarbossa]. That’s a team thing.”
Trevor Montiel, a 6-5 senior, did an admirable job trying to contain Ebube throughout the game and finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for Lake Park.
Sgarbossa scored nine consecutive points for the Lancers (9-1) in a stretch of the third quarter to briefly give them the lead. Enright drained a three to tie it right before the third quarter buzzer and the Mustangs never trailed again.
“We needed a big shot to get momentum going into the last quarter,” Enright said. “I hit it and I just got the students into it and that took off right into the fourth quarter.”
Enright and Ebube have been on varsity since they were freshmen. They’ve slowly been growing Mundelein’s reputation. The team is poised to make a mark over the next two seasons.
“We’re a lot quicker than what people realize,” Mustangs coach Matt Badgley said. “Our big thing is can we play defense? We know we have a big guy in the middle. We know we have speed and quickness. There are variables that are going to make those things disappear sometimes but we’ve got to be able to defend. That’s been the stance we’ve been trying to take.”
Mundelein has already beaten Zion-Benton, North Lawndale and Deerfield.
“We can definitely compete with the top teams in the state,” Enright said. “I want to win a regional. I want to win conference and the school’s first sectional. I think we can do it. We can do it this year and next year will be even better because we have the same group back.”
The final minute of Lake Park at Mundelein https://t.co/ewyzSi5g9R
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) December 22, 2019
