Well, maybe I shouldn't say short handed anymore, because Glenbrook North is handling their business without junior point guard Josh Fridman (5'11"). Fridman tore his ACL in his knee in the first quarter of first meeting between these two teams. They managed to win without him in that first game. Here we go:
#2 seed Glenbrook North (Northbrook) 59 #3 seed Rolling Meadows 58: First time they played was the day before the seeding meetings by the coaches. Fridman suffered his injury in that game, but still won. Some thought they were slightly overseeeded, but don't tell that to the Spartans. They have gotten used to playing without Fridman and it showed tonight. Glenbrook North ran their offense almost to perfection tonight. Of course it helped Washington University of St Louis commit Ryan Cohen (6'3" senior guard) was absolutely on fire in the first half. His 18 points in that stanza helped his team to a 12-4 lead at end of first quarter and 34-19 halftime lead. Rolling Meadows started the third quarter with a 7-0 run to cut lead to 34-26 and get back into the game. Then....
HERE COMES CAMERON CHRISTIE: 6'7" Rolling Meadows star point guard and Minnesota commit had 12 of his 29 points in the third quarter to help his team cut the deficit to 46-42 at end of third quarter.
Fourth quarter was about Rolling Meadows desperately trying to get to a tie or take a lead. They finally did after Owen Giannoulias (5'10" junior guard) missed the front end of one and one with 20 seconds left in game. Score was 57-56 Glenbrook North. Christie then gets fouled driving to the basket with 12.6 seconds left. Christie hits two pressure free throws to give Rolling Meadows their only lead of the game at 58-57. Timeout Glenbrook North. They come down the court, junior forward Northwestern Football commit Patrick Schaller (#44) fakes a screen (called a slip screen). He then rolls to the basket wide open, received the pass from Giannoulias and converts the layup with 4 seconds to go. Glenbrook North is up 59-58, timeout Rolling Meadows. They come out in their set, then timeout Glenbrook North. Rolling Meadows throws the ball to Christie, who gets down the court for a decent shot from 25 feet that hits the front rim. Wild celebration for Glenbrook South beating Rolling Meadows for a second time down the stretch without their star.
CAN I SAY THIS AGAIN? RYAN COHEN (#11) WAS ON FIRE: As mentioned he had 18 of his 26 points in the first half. He was 6 of 8 from three point range, 6 of 9 from two point range as he drove for some big time layups.
OWEN GIANNOULIS'S PENETRATION WAS HUGE: He had 8 points 2 rebounds and 3 assists (including the game winner). He penetrated, made a lot of hockey assists, and generally executed the offense flawlessly.
PATRICK SCHALLER WITH THE GAME WINNER: As mentioned the slip screen and game winning basket. Also did a good job of containing Rolling Meadows big man Mark Nikolitch- Wilson. He had 9 points 3 rebounds 3 assists.
SAM LAPPIN WAS ATTACKING THE BASKET: He ended up with 11 points 6 rebounds and some key attacks to the basket and scores in the second half, along with hitting a huge three.
IAN MILITIC OF ROLLING MEADOWS STEPS UP: 6'6" sophomore wing had some huge assists and baskets to keep the Mustangs within contact. The only other player in double figures with 11 points 3 rebounds 4 assists 2 steals and one block. His time will be next year to be the star for Rolling Meadows.
Glenbrook North moves to New Trier (Winnetka) Sectional Final against host New Trier with a 28-4 record while Rolling Meadows ends season at 28-7 as Cameron Christie's spectacular career comes to an end.
Glenbrook North (Northbrook) and New Trier (Winnekta) split their two meetings in the regular season as they both won at home. Central Suburban South foes.
Notes:
St Rita (Chicago) and Bolingbrook cannot take advantage of having home court in Sectional as they both lost tonight.
Hinsdale Central won on their homecourt as they eliminated neighborhood rival Lyons Township (LaGrange)
Ahmad Henderson of Brother Rice (Chicago) went crazy in the second half as he had 30 of his 34 points in that stanza to get revenge on St Rita on their home court.
East (Oswego) avenged their loss to Bolingbrook in the regular season with a one point win tonight.
Sophomore guard Ben Schneider of Prospect (Mount Prospect) called game with a walk off three at the buzzer to knock out Stevenson (Lincolnshire)
St Viator (Arlington Heights) Cinderella run as a 7 seed ended tonight with loss at Central (Grayslake)
Metamora survives Sterling by two at Galesburg. They still have not lost in 2023 and have won 28 straight games.
All of last years Class 4A semifinalists: Bolingbrook, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn), Whitney Young (Chicago), and Barrington are all out of the state tournament before Sectional Finals.
Payton Kamin is BAAAACKKKK!!!! The 6'8" junior wing for DePaul Prep had 28 points tonight in win over Michele Clark (Chicago). He's been injured most of the year, back at the right time of the year.
Mount Carmel (Chicago) wins the neighborhood rivalry game over Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) by 19. Chicago Catholic League Blue bests the Chicago Public League Red South/Central in this one.
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