HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS: Rough and tumble game at Conant High School with missed free throws all over the place, this is a game the tougher team wins. Glenbrook South was the tougher team getting just enough 50/50 balls to come out on top.
#4 seed Glenbrook South (Glenview) 47 #5 seed Evanston Township 43: This game went as I expected. Familiarity breeds contempt. This was the third meeting between these Central Suburban Conference foes. Both regular season games were close. These teams know each other so well, the offense these teams run. the defense, player tendencies. This game was destined to be ugly and it was. Lots of contact, hard for offensive players to get by a defensive player. Both teams look disjointed the entire game. Glenbrook South was hampered by senior guard Rodell Davis getting hurt early in the first quarter with a head injury. He did not return. It came down to the toughness plays which Glenbrook South was slightly better, hence the 4 point margin of victory. Glenbrook South led 9-7 after one quarter and 20-17 at halftime. Evanston Township went on a 10-2 run to begin the third quarter to lead 27-22 with 5:45 left in the quarter. Glenbrook South proceeded to go on a 6-0 to take a 28-27 lead. It was nip and tuck from there as Glenbrook South led 34-31 at end of the third quarter. Glenbrook South's Nick Taylor missed two free throws in the last minute of the game. Prince Adams had the ball in his hands with 40 seconds left and his team down 44-43, he drove to the basket and committed an offensive foul, his 5th. Evanston had another chance to take the lead when Evanston's Hunter Duncan(6'2"senior) was fouled with 8 seconds left and his team down 44-43. Went to the line for one and one, missed the front end, Glenbrook South got the rebound, and hit 3 of 4 free throws for the final margin.
FREE THROWS: Evanston went 9 for 15 from the line, missing a couple of one and one opportunities. Glenbrook South went 15 for 23 from the line for the game. Six point difference there and 8 more free throws shot by Glenbrook South.
NICK TAYLOR HAD A HUGE SECOND HALF: 6'7" junior forward for Glenbrook South had 17 of his 20 points in the second half and hit 4 of 7 free throws in the second half. He attacked the basket and scored at the rim with great efficiency.
PRINCE ADAMS HAD A BAD SHOOTING NIGHT: 6'6" senior forward had a fantastic season but hit 4 of 15 from the floor, most of them point blank range in the lane. Ends his high school career with 11 points 18 rebounds 5 blocks but will rue the missed shots in the paint.
BRANDON WATSON HAD ANOTHER GREAT GAME OFF THE BENCH: 5'9" junior point guard for Evanston just produced all year for the Wildkits. The team just ran smooth with him on the court. He had 13 points 3 assists and 2 steals. Should be a starter and leader of next years team.
ANESTIS HADJISTAMOULOU WAS CLUTCH DOWN THE STRETCH: 6'0" sophomore point guard hit 3 of 4 free throws in the last 20 seconds to clinch the game. Had 8 points in the game.
NATE KASHER: 6'0" junior guard had 10 points 4 rebounds 2 assists and 2 steals for Glenbrook South.
Glenbrook South (Glenview) advances to the New Trier (Winnetka) Sectional with a 25-8 record. Evanston Township ends season with a 24-9 record.
I was told Rodell Davis could be available for the Sectional Semifinal against New Trier (Winnetka) on Tuesday. He will undergo tests over the weekend.
Opinion: There was talk in the area and in the Evanston community about 5 senior transfers coming into the program in the summer. To the basketball fans in the community it just did not work. This is the earliest exit for Evanston Basketball since 2012-2013 season. it also ends 8 straight regional titles. It was just too short of a time to work these seniors into Coach Mike Ellis's system. It takes a year to get comfortable in the dribble drive system. It's hardest on the point guard because he has to make the right reads and right passes for it to work. Senior point guard Hunter Duncan had a lot on his shoulders this season. He received a lot of criticism in a lot of corners, but he did his best to run the system and make the team successful. The other seniors had to get comfortable knowing where they were supposed to be, and what shots too take. Kudos though to Coach Ellis for winning 24 games in likely the toughest division in the state, the Central Suburban South. The end result may not be what Evanston fans would have liked, but it is not easy to win that many games in any environment. The transfer seniors worked very hard in a condensed time period to work the system to get Evanston deep in the playoffs. Last thing as a Coach you cannot say no if these kids want to transfer into your program. They are very talented players and it was intriguing to try to make it work. Blessings to all the seniors and though it ended short of your goals, hope you do well in your future endeavors.
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