Michael O'Brien's high school basketball weekly rewind
All three sophomores lived up to the hype at the Chicago Elite Classic on Saturday, but Davion Thompson’s performance was notable.The Bolingbrook guard thwarted Kankakee in the fourth quarter. Every time the Kays were close, Thompson responded. It reminded me of Jalen Brunson’s time at Stevenson.-Kankakee trailed by two points at the start of the fourth quarter. Thompson hit a three-pointer.-Kankakee led 42-41 with 5:48 left. Thompson scored the next two baskets to retake the lead.-Kankakee scored with 1:22 left to cut the lead to 51-47. Thompson scores on a driving layup.Warren sophomore Jaxon Davis tends to dominate the pace and flow of the game more, but Thompson has a unique ability to step up at the end of games.Thompson finished with 22 points and six rebounds. He was 8 of 14 shooting.Bolingbrook fell to No. 2 this week but that is more due to Kenwood’s strong start than any struggles by the Raiders. Thompson and JT Pettigrew, who had 13 points and 15 rebounds against Kankakee, have been as good as expected this season. And Bolingbrook looks deeper than expected. Several players showed promise against the Kays. But don’t expect the Raiders to be firing on all cylinders until Trey Brost and Jayden Madden return.All three sophomore stars are smart, engaging and fun to talk with. Kenwood’s Devin Cleveland had something particularly notable to say after the Broncos beat Warren.“I just want to get my team involved,” Cleveland said. “I don’t want everything with Kenwood to be about me. I want it to be a whole team thing going on.”Glenbard West’s big weekIt’s not a suprise that Glenbard West cracked the rankings this week. The Hilltoppers were expected to show up at some point this season. But they’ve done it quickly.Glenbard West knocked off DeKalb, Hinsdale Central and Stevenson this week. Three big wins and three close games against good teams.Logan Glover was the Hilltopper’s hero against Hinsdale Central. He led the way with 12 points and made two free throws with eight seconds left to secure the 42-40 win.Waukegan’s up and down startWaukegan’s win at Warren on Wednesday was one of the biggest of the season. The Bulldogs’ returners and new pieces came together and showed just how good they could become this season.Grayslake Central transfer Xavi Granville scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Manley transfer Jaali Love added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Waukegan limited Davis to just 3 of 16 shooting.Then on Saturday they lost to Christ the King. The Warriors have been one of the better small school programs in Chicago the last few seasons, but it was still a surprise.Aaron McClure (listed below) and Darien Green (15 points, five rebounds, 5 assists) had big games in the win for Christ The King.Curie’s consistencyIt only took two weeks for Curie to prove the strength of its program. The Condors graduated the entire starting lineup from last season’s city championship team and lost their top returning player, Derrick Dowdell, to Perspectives-Leadership.Curie coach Mike Oliver brought up his sophomore team from last season and hasn’t missed a beat. The Condors knocked off Farragut and Lane this past week. Curie’s Saquan Commings (5) dribbles against Farragut.Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times Notable resultsMonday, Dec. 2Crane 68, Lindblom 61Fenwick 66, Nazareth 46Geneva 44, St. Francis 37Tuesday, Dec. 3Curie 68, Farragut 40Lake Forest 53, Glenbrook South 46Lemont 65, Stagg 35Plainfield South 53, Romeoville 38St. Ignatius 65, Maine South 58, otWednesday Dec. 4Waukegan 72, Warren 62Glenbard West 56, DeKalb 51Lincoln-Way East 60, Andrew 55Thursday, Dec. 5Curie 48, Lane 46Lincoln Park 74, Young 71Payton 60, Farragut 59Friday, Dec. 6Brother Rice 40, Loyola 34Crystal Lake South 66, Burlington Central 61Fenwick 59, Oak Park-River Forest 45Glenbard West 42, Hinsdale Central 40Glenbrook South 52, Maine South 44Lincoln Park 73, St. Laurence 69Oswego East 52, Plainfield North 51St. Ignatius 66, Lane 60St. Patrick 43, Notre Dame 38Saturday, Dec. 7Bolingbrook 54, Kankakee 50Christ the King 62, Waukegan 58Duncanville, Tex. 85, Rich 67DePaul Prep 57, Mater Dei, Calif. 50Glenbard West 53, Stevenson 47Homewood-Flossmoor 79, Young 71Kenwood 61, Warren 58Rolling Meadows 64, Maine South 54Simeon 58, Chaminade, Mo. 54Waubonsie Valley 65, Auburn 48Some of the week’s top performancesAthan Berchos, Andrew: 33 points in a 72-50 win vs. ArgoDerek Bishop, Mundelein: 29 points in a 58-46 win vs. Niles WestJustin Bowen, Proviso West: 19 points, 9 rebounds in a 63-56 win vs. LyonsAl Brooks Jr., Rich: 22 points, 12 rebounds
All three sophomores lived up to the hype at the Chicago Elite Classic on Saturday, but Davion Thompson’s performance was notable.
The Bolingbrook guard thwarted Kankakee in the fourth quarter. Every time the Kays were close, Thompson responded. It reminded me of Jalen Brunson’s time at Stevenson.
-Kankakee trailed by two points at the start of the fourth quarter. Thompson hit a three-pointer.
-Kankakee led 42-41 with 5:48 left. Thompson scored the next two baskets to retake the lead.
-Kankakee scored with 1:22 left to cut the lead to 51-47. Thompson scores on a driving layup.
Warren sophomore Jaxon Davis tends to dominate the pace and flow of the game more, but Thompson has a unique ability to step up at the end of games.
Thompson finished with 22 points and six rebounds. He was 8 of 14 shooting.
Bolingbrook fell to No. 2 this week but that is more due to Kenwood’s strong start than any struggles by the Raiders. Thompson and JT Pettigrew, who had 13 points and 15 rebounds against Kankakee, have been as good as expected this season. And Bolingbrook looks deeper than expected. Several players showed promise against the Kays. But don’t expect the Raiders to be firing on all cylinders until Trey Brost and Jayden Madden return.
All three sophomore stars are smart, engaging and fun to talk with. Kenwood’s Devin Cleveland had something particularly notable to say after the Broncos beat Warren.
“I just want to get my team involved,” Cleveland said. “I don’t want everything with Kenwood to be about me. I want it to be a whole team thing going on.”
Glenbard West’s big week
It’s not a suprise that Glenbard West cracked the rankings this week. The Hilltoppers were expected to show up at some point this season. But they’ve done it quickly.
Glenbard West knocked off DeKalb, Hinsdale Central and Stevenson this week. Three big wins and three close games against good teams.
Logan Glover was the Hilltopper’s hero against Hinsdale Central. He led the way with 12 points and made two free throws with eight seconds left to secure the 42-40 win.
Waukegan’s up and down start
Waukegan’s win at Warren on Wednesday was one of the biggest of the season. The Bulldogs’ returners and new pieces came together and showed just how good they could become this season.
Grayslake Central transfer Xavi Granville scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Manley transfer Jaali Love added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Waukegan limited Davis to just 3 of 16 shooting.
Then on Saturday they lost to Christ the King. The Warriors have been one of the better small school programs in Chicago the last few seasons, but it was still a surprise.
Aaron McClure (listed below) and Darien Green (15 points, five rebounds, 5 assists) had big games in the win for Christ The King.
Curie’s consistency
It only took two weeks for Curie to prove the strength of its program. The Condors graduated the entire starting lineup from last season’s city championship team and lost their top returning player, Derrick Dowdell, to Perspectives-Leadership.
Curie coach Mike Oliver brought up his sophomore team from last season and hasn’t missed a beat. The Condors knocked off Farragut and Lane this past week.
Notable results
Monday, Dec. 2
Crane 68, Lindblom 61
Fenwick 66, Nazareth 46
Geneva 44, St. Francis 37
Tuesday, Dec. 3
Curie 68, Farragut 40
Lake Forest 53, Glenbrook South 46
Lemont 65, Stagg 35
Plainfield South 53, Romeoville 38
St. Ignatius 65, Maine South 58, ot
Wednesday Dec. 4
Waukegan 72, Warren 62
Glenbard West 56, DeKalb 51
Lincoln-Way East 60, Andrew 55
Thursday, Dec. 5
Curie 48, Lane 46
Lincoln Park 74, Young 71
Payton 60, Farragut 59
Friday, Dec. 6
Brother Rice 40, Loyola 34
Crystal Lake South 66, Burlington Central 61
Fenwick 59, Oak Park-River Forest 45
Glenbard West 42, Hinsdale Central 40
Glenbrook South 52, Maine South 44
Lincoln Park 73, St. Laurence 69
Oswego East 52, Plainfield North 51
St. Ignatius 66, Lane 60
St. Patrick 43, Notre Dame 38
Saturday, Dec. 7
Bolingbrook 54, Kankakee 50
Christ the King 62, Waukegan 58
Duncanville, Tex. 85, Rich 67
DePaul Prep 57, Mater Dei, Calif. 50
Glenbard West 53, Stevenson 47
Homewood-Flossmoor 79, Young 71
Kenwood 61, Warren 58
Rolling Meadows 64, Maine South 54
Simeon 58, Chaminade, Mo. 54
Waubonsie Valley 65, Auburn 48
Some of the week’s top performances
Athan Berchos, Andrew: 33 points in a 72-50 win vs. Argo
Derek Bishop, Mundelein: 29 points in a 58-46 win vs. Niles West
Justin Bowen, Proviso West: 19 points, 9 rebounds in a 63-56 win vs. Lyons
Al Brooks Jr., Rich: 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists in a 66-28 win vs. Thornton
Zane Caves, Minooka: 21 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals in a 53-49 win vs. Yorkville
Michael Chaney, Schurz: 32 points, 5 steals in a 70-48 win vs. Collins
Phoenix Childs, Perspectives-Leadership: 31 points, 8 rebounds in a 73-54 win vs. Riverside-Brookfield
Devin Cleveland, Kenwood: 27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in a 78-37 win vs. Taft
Chris Cole, Ag. Science: 29 points ina. 74-54 win vs. North Side
AJ Demirov, Crystal Lake South: 22 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds in a 66-61 win vs. Burlington Central
Hunter Gawron, Niles North: 26 points in a 74-42 win vs. Niles West
Jeremiee George, Clark: 30 points in a 63-51 win vs. Lindblom
Phoenix Gill, St. Ignatius: 23 points, 8 rebounds in a 66-60 win vs. Lane
Andrew Hill, IC Catholic: 26 points, 10 rebounds in a 57-49 win vs. Marmion
Hudson Kirby, Geneva: 24 points, 13 rebounds in a 52-34 win vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South
Dylan Long, Newark: 39 points, 13 rebounds in a 67-64 win vs. Serena
Elijah Lovemore, Bloom: 8 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 8 steals in a 64-38 win vs. Joliet Central
Ty Macariola, Fenwick: 29 points in a 59-45 win vs. Oak Park
Matthew Martinez, Von Steuben: 32 points in a 67-17 win vs. Roosevelt
Aaron McClure, Christ The King: 29 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks in a 62-58 win vs. Waukegan
Simon Moschin, Highland Park: 33 points in a 55-43 win vs. Vernon Hills
Tyler Nixon, Dunbar: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 8 steals, 5 assists
Gabryel Patterson, Southland: 40 points, 4 rebounds in a 76-41 win vs. Corliss
JT Pettigrew, Bolingbrook: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocks in a 71-42 win vs. Yorkville
Luke Smith: 13 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds in a 91-51 win vs. Elk Grove
Jovan Thomas, Shepard: 26 points, 23 rebounds in a 65-54 win against Stagg
Zion Young, Schaumburg: 18 points, 19 rebounds in a 64-55 win vs. Glenbard East
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