What a way to start the state playoffs. I find out half hour before first game driving to Oak Park that the Kenwood Academy (Chicago) game was postponed due to possible residency issues of some players. IHSA is having a board meeting to decide if Kenwood stays in the state playoffs or not? Also another Chicago Public League team had players ruled ineligible an hour before their playoff game. They ended up losing and they had a #1 seed in their sub sectional. A mess. More to come. Here we go:
#4 seed New Trier (Winnetka) 72 #13 seed Taft (Chicago) 48: New Trier controlled the game from the start. Sophomore Chris Kirkpatrick controlled the tempo and there was nothing Taft could do to slow him down. New Trier led 16-6 after one quarter,38-19 at half, and 58-33 after three quarters. Taft just could not hit the broad side of the barn, they had plenty of open shots from three, just couldn't knock them down. New Trier hit the boards to make sure there were very few second and third shots for Taft. New Trier did not hit a great percentage from three but hit the glass and scored on drives to the rim. New Trier advances to Regional Final with record of 25-7 while Taft ends it's season at 11-19.
Top performers for New Trier (Winnetka):
Chris Kirkpatrick, 6'2" sophomore point guard: He controlled the game and tempo from the start. He had 16 of his 21 points in the first half. Most were on drives to the basket, finishing at the rim, drawing fouls and going 5 for 5 from the free throw line. Added 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Logan Feller, 6'4" senior guard: Johns Hopkins commit did a little bit of everything as usual. Scored, hit the glass, assisted, rim protected. Stat line 12 points 7 rebounds 3 assists 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Top performance for Taft (Chicago):
Frank Paszkowski, 6'3" senior wing: Did all he could to keep his team in the playoffs. Stat line: 15 points 3 rebounds 1 steal 1 block.
Jayden Harris, 5'9" senior guard: Stat line 9 points 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
#12 Oak Park River Forest 85 #5 Niles North 80 Overtime: I warned that this could be tricky for the 5 seed and it was. Oak Park is very talented but has had a disastrous season up to this point. Under 500 record. The most talented 12 seed in the state. This was a back and forth high scoring game. The led changed hands a number of times. Niles North appeared to have it in the bag but junior Alex Vincent of Oak Park hit a basket from about five feet with 4 seconds left in regulation to tie it. This after Niles North split a couple of free throws to make it 72-70. Junior Yaris Irby of Niles North went out twice with cramps, then hit his head on floor in overtime with about 20 seconds left. Oak Park led 21-17 after first quarter, 39-32 at halftime. Niles North fought back to get a five point lead with about 3 minutes left in regulation, but could not hold the lead. Oak Park got a 5 point lead in overtime helped by a huge three by junior Justin Bowen Jr, who had a double/double. Oak Park pulls the upset and will host the Regional Final as a lower seed. Oak Park ups it's record to 9-16 and will host #4 seed New Trier (Winnetka) on Friday. Niles North ends a great season as Central Suburban champ at 24-8.
Top performers for Oak Park River Forest:
Justin Bowen Jr, 6'5" junior wing: He was a monster on both backboards. Hit a key three in overtime to give Oak Park some distance. Stat line 15 points 15 rebounds (double/double) 2 steals and 3 blocks.
Max Johnson, 6'0" senior point guard: He was not ready for his high school career to end yet, especially not on his home court. Scored at all three levels in the game. Made some tough key baskets at the rim late in the game. Stat line 27 points 1 rebound 5 assists and 1 steal.
Alex Gossett, 6'6" junior wing: Slashed, scored at the rim, hit a couple of mid range shots, threes and did some rim protecting. Stat line: 25 points 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Alex Vincent, 6'9" junior center: Hit the game typing basket to force overtime. Played through foul trouble to get 10 points 7 rebounds and 1 assist.
Top performers for Niles North (Skokie):
Reid Olson, 6'0" junior combo guard: Scored in different ways than he usually does. He only hit one three but constantly attacked the basket, scored at the rim, drew fouls to shoot a lot of free throws. Stat line: 27 points (10 for 10 from free throw line) and 1 assist.
Hunter Gawron, 6'6" junior forward: Hit the glass and rim protected to keep his team in it. Stat line 13 points 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Yaris Irby, 6'0" junior point guard: Did not have his greatest shooting game but played very hard as he cramped up twice and gutted it out by getting back on the court. Stat line 14 points 4 rebounds 3 assists 2 steals.
Kaidan Chatham, 6'3" junior combo guard: Did a little bit of everything. Stat line 13 points 8 rebounds 2 assists 1 steal and 1 block.
NOTES:
Beecher stays undefeated at 31-0.
Ian Militec of Rolling Meadows scored his 1000th point tonight. A junior.
TOP PERFORMANCES AROUND THE STATE:
CJ Worsham, Christ The King (Chicago) 21 points 9 rebounds 11 assists (double/double)
Athan Berchos, Andrew (Tinley Park) 27 points 6 assists
Grantas Sakenis, Andrew (Tinley Park) 16 points 9 rebounds
James Gallagher, Andrew (Tinley Park) 9 points 9 rebounds
Tristan Taylor, Thornwood (South Holland) 18 points
Kevin Thomas, Thornwood (South Holland) 17 points
Sam Donald, Columbia 29 points 8 rebounds
Holland Anderson, Sherrard 19 points
Rylan Carton, Sherrard 17 points
Brady Clark, Macomb 23 points
Jack Weigus, Hinsdale South (Darien) 19 points scored his 1000th point (junior)
Ayden Farrare, Hinsdale South (Darien) 24 points
Danny Thompson, Central (Joliet) 28 points including game winning three
BJ Powell, Lincoln Way East (Frankfort) 15 points (sophomore)
Brendan Sanders, Lincoln Way East (Frankfort) 13 points
Cannon Bruce, Rochester 20 points
Eli Cox, Rochester 16 points
Youssef Hassab, MCC Crescents (Morton Grove) 17 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Eman Jodzic, MCC Crescents (Morton Grove) 16 points 8 rebounds
Ross Robertson, South Beloit 16 points 14 rebounds (double/double)
Paxton Giertz, Seneca 27 points
Malik Allen, Edwardsville 19 points
Connor Williams, Stagg (Palos Heights) 15 points
Ayipey Salinas, Eisenhower (Blue Island) 16 points
Michael Woods, St Francis De Sales (Chicago) 20 points (freshman)
Brendan Jost, Notre Dame College Prep (Niles ) 17 points
Prodive Matumona-Nzama, Lakes Community (Lake Villa) 14 rebounds
Kalvin Leonard, Longwood (Chicago) 23 points 4 rebounds (sophomore)
Kris Hills, Walther Christian (Melrose Park) 38 points 4 assists 4 steals
Lyncoln Koester, Mount Zion 23 points (junior)
Marquise Williams, Marshall (Chicago) 22 points 6 rebounds 10 assists (double/double) 8 steals
Antonio Tyler, Marshall (Chicago) 11 points 16 rebounds (double/double) 3 blocks
Elijah Garrett, Marshall (Chicago) 15 points 5 rebounds 5 assists
Britt Williams, Marshall (Chicago) 18 points 5 assists 2 steals
Jordan Brooks, West Aurora 20 points
CJ Savage, West Aurora 19 points
Gabe Gonzales, West Aurora 17 points (junior)
Marko Visnjevac, McHenry 37 points (4 threes)
Landon Enters, Grant Community 15 points (3 threes) 3 rebounds 2 assists
Panayiotis Sotos, Maine South (Park Ridge) 17 points (sophomore)
Jack Sladky, Maine South (Park Ridge) 16 points (junior)
RJ McKinnie, Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) 18 points 11 rebounds (double/double) 5 assists 3 steals
Kaleb Jackson, Carmel Catholic (Mundelein) 19 points
Melvin Dower, Bulls Prep (Chicago) 17 points
Jalen James, Bulls Prep (Chicago) 10 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Connor Reichman, Fieldcrest 18 points
Jozia Johnson, Fieldcrest 15 points
Nolan Sexton, Evergreen Park 22 points
Tre Dowdell, Evergreen Park 17 points
Keshaun Vaval, Evergreen Park 16 points (junior)
Dylan Chung, Vernon Hills 22 points
AJ Morgan, Vernon Hills 16 points 5 rebounds (double/double)
Jeffrey Fleming, North (Plainfield) 35 points
Nick Taylor, Glenbrook South (Glenview) 16 points
Isaiah Houi, Hononegah (Rockton) 18 points
Travon Gourdine, Richards (Oak Lawn) 15 points
Camron Williams, Heights (Peoria) 31 points
Barrett Marfell, Heights (Peoria) 16 points (junior)
Phoenix Gill, St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) 23 points (junior)
Donte Montgomery Jr, Oak Lawn 22 points (20 in second half)
Yigit Akgunlu, Reavis 19 points
Zack Johnson, Beecher 23 points 5 rebounds 8 assists
Courtney Scott, Perspectives MSA (Chicago) 15 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Javerion Banks, Warren Township (Gurnee) 22 points (junior)
Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee) 22 points (freshman)
Jamson Coulter Jr, Rich Township (Richton Park) 15 points 4 rebounds 4 assists (sophomore)
Jakob Blakely, Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) 21 points
Kai Fogelson, Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) 21 points
Levi Goad, Prairie Central (Fairbury) 20 points
Talen Steidinger, Prairie Central (Fairbury) 15 points
Nick Allen, Bradley Bourbonnais 15 points (junior)
Freddy Hasan, Kaneland (Maple Park) 26 points (junior)
Stefan Cicic, Riverside Brookfield 22 points
Darron Greer, Argo (Summit) 16 points
Jayden Hall, Central (Grayslake) 22 points
Brady Chambers, Lyons Township (LaGrange) 17 points 14 rebounds (double/double) 3 assists 3 blocks
Maxwell Hoffman, Lyons Township (LaGrange) 16 points 1 rebound 4 assists
Drew Terpins, Prospect (Mount Prospect) 15 points
Davee Flowers, Niles West (Skokie) 23 points
Jordan Williams, Fremd (Palatine) 15 points 6 rebounds 4 assists (sophomore)
Gus Rugaard, Morton Township 28 points
Tim Handy, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 18 points 7 rebounds 7 assists
Dawson Charles, St Viator (Arlington Heights) 19 points (freshman)
Dayvion Ellis, St Viator (Arlington Heights) 16 points
Ryan Runaas, Lemont 20 points
Matas Gaidukevicius, Lemont 16 points
Klaidas Paskauskas,Lemont 15 points
Diante Mann, Peoria 21 points
Fenix Foy, Peoria 11 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Semaje Howard, Lincoln Park (Chicago) 20 points
Larry Harris, Lincoln Park (Chicago) 20 points 9 rebounds
DJ Bolden, Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago) 21 points
Treyvon Ali, Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago) 16 points 6 assists
Quentin McCoy, Lindblom Math and Science (Chicago) 15 points 5 rebounds 6 assists 1 steal 2 blocks
Bennett Schwanke, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) 21 points
TJ Williams, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) 17 points (sophomore)
Dalton Scantlebury, Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) 21 points 11 rebounds (double/double) (junior)
Shaheed Solebo, Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) 18 points 8 rebounds 4 assists
Darshan Thomas, Marist (Chicago) 21 points
Stephen Brown, Marist (Chicago) 15 points (sophomore)
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