I've been out of commission all week (bad cold) so have not written anything this week. This week has been the start of the Chicago Public League Playoffs for the boys which are not in quarterfinal round. Most of the last chances to set seeding positions were tonight as seeding meetings are Wednesday, February 8th, 2023. Still fighting this cold, but feeling somewhat better, so let's see how far I can get with what's been going down in the Chicago Area (and maybe beyond). Here we go:
New Trier (Winnetka) likely clinched the #1 seed in they Sectional with a tight win tonight at Evanston Township. Earned the regular season sweep in the long running series. They will have to clean up bad free throw shooting and some turnover down the stretch tonight to ultimately get to a Supersectional. They did survive tonight.
Lincoln Park (Chicago) gets booted out of the Chicago Public League Playoffs in Round of 16.....and never threw a punch. They was up 13 in the first round of the playoffs against Perspectives MSA with 1:39 left in the game. The officials stopped the game, and this is my opinion only should have awarded the game to Lincoln Park. Instead they called no contest hence the forfeit and Curie moves on to quarterfinals.
Favorites move to Chicago Public League Quarterfinals: Curie, Kenwood Academy, Simeon Career Academy, Hyde Park Academy, North Lawndale, Whitney Young, Wendell Phillips, and the only underdog to move on (at least seeding wise) Perspectives Leadership.
Bolingbrook beats Lincoln Way East for a second time this season. Takes a stranglehold over the Southwest Suburban Blue.
St Rita (Chicago) takes control of Chicago Catholic League Blue as they beat Fenwick (Oak Park) and Mount Carmel (Chicago) loses their second league game in a row, this time at Brother Rice (Chicago).
Palatine is Mid Suburban West Champs and possibly #1 seed in the Sectional.
Bloom Township (Chicago Heights) sophomore Elijah Lovemore drops a triple double tonight.
Illinois commit Morez Johnson Jr of St Rita (Chicago) scores his 1000th point tonight.
#1 Benet Academy (Lisle) picks up big road win at Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights).
Top performances:
Cole Certa, Central Catholic (Bloomington) 43 points 7 rebounds 3 assists(Game MVP at Bank Of O'Fallon Shootout)
Nehemiah Dunn, Waukegan 30 points 5 rebounds (game winning 4 point play)
Tristan Walton, Maine East (Park Ridge) 22 points
Kaj Sorensen, Libertyville 21 points
Brendan Savage, Hinsdale South (Darien) 35 points
Jaxson Provost, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 21 points (3rd on all time scoring list in school history)
Angelo Coleman, Rich Township (Richton Park) 24 points 4 assists
Victor Brown, Rich Township (Richton Park) 21 points 14 rebounds (double/double)
Jamson Coulter, Jr, Rich Township (Richton Park) 24 points (freshman)
Troy Cicero, Romeoville 24 points 4 rebounds
Aaron Brown, Romeoville 16 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Asa Thomas, Lake Forest 24 points (6 threes)
Cameron Christie, Rolling Meadows 17 points 8 rebounds 4 assists
DJ Strong, Bolingbrook 19 points
Mekhi Cooper, Bolingbrook 18 points
Jackson Niego, Lyons Township (LaGrange) 18 points
Eddie Hrebic, Richards (Oak Lawn) 17 points
AJ Levine, York (Elmhurst) 19 points
Cooper LePage, South (Crystal Lake) 31 points (career high)
Clark Easley, Schaumburg 12 rebounds
Adyn McGinley, Beecher 23 points 6 assists 4 steals
Justin Bowen, Oak Park River Forest 17 points (sophomore)
Micah Meiss, El Paso Gridley 29 points
Jonah Funk, El Paso Gridley 20 points 13 rebounds (double/double)
Cam Cerese, Lake Park (Roselle) 24 points
Noah Campbell, Willowbrook 22 points 4 rebounds 6 steals
Isaac Sobieszczyk, Willowbrook 13 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Elijah Lovemore, Bloom Township (Chicago Heights) 16 points 10 rebounds 11 assists 5 steals (triple double) (sophomore)
Isaiah Giles, Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago) 24 points
Treyvon Ali, Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago) 19 points
Terrell Craig, Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago) 17 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 5 assists
Davee Flowers, Niles West (Skokie) 25 points
Miles Beachum, Lemont 16 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Brock Marino, Lakes (Lake Villa) 27 points
JaKeem Cole, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 30 points 6 assists 3 steals
Gianni Cobb, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 21 points 11 assists (double/double)
KJ Cobb, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 21 points 7 rebounds
Tim Handy, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 18 points 13 rebounds (double/double) 4 assists
De'Vontay Wright, United Township (East Moline) 22 points
Omarion Roberts, United Township (East Moline) 18 points
Andre Klaver, Sterling 26 points
Khalil Ross, Brother Rice (Chicago) 18 points
Tre Dowdell, Brother Rice (Chicago) 17 points
Angelo Ciaravino, Mount Carmel (Chicago) 17 points
Morez Johnson Jr, St Rita (Chicago) 21 points 12 rebounds (double/double)
Grantas Sakenis, Andrew (Tinley Park) 19 points 6 rebounds
Darrin Ames, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 30 points 5 assists 2 steals
Solomon Mosley, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 12 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 2 blocks
Daniel Johnson, Whitney Young (Chicago) 31 points 12 rebounds (double/double)
Dalen Davis, Whitney Young (Chicago) 18 points 10 assists (double/double)
Adam Labuda, Lockport 20 points 7 rebounds 5 steals
James Stevenson Jr, Momence 17 points 7 rebounds
Luke Williams, North (Naperville) 19 points
Connor Williams, Stagg 18 points
Je'Shawn Stevenson, Lindbloom (Chicago) 43 points 9 rebounds 3 steals
Quentin McCoy, Lindbloom (Chicago) 10 rebounds
Agsan Branch, Lindbloom (Chicago) 10 rebounds
Jake Wilkinson, Collinsville 20 points
Jamorie Wysinger, Collinsville 17 points
Josh Wolf, Glenbrook South (Glenview) 35 points (school record 9 threes)
Brady Kunka, Benet Academy (Lisle) 20 points 13 rebounds (double/double)
Quentin Jones, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) 23 points 6 rebounds
I still don't understand why Lincoln Park wasn't awarded the game, the referees allowed Perspective to commit two blatant flagrant fouls