Something had to give.
With four teams tied for the SICA West lead–and two of them going head-to-head Friday night–the deadlock had to break.
And it did, with Lincoln-Way edging Sandburg 46-44 in a thrilling contest in Orland Park and Andrew hammering Stagg 57-30 in a major upset in Tinley Park.
Winston Taylor’s jumper with three seconds left proved the difference in Lincoln-Way’s victory, lifting the Knights to 13-6 overall and 5-2 in the SICA West. Sandburg fell to 12-8, 4-3. Ryan White led Lincoln-Way with 17 points and Ryan Rothrock added 14. Zak Kustok’s 18 led Sandburg.
Andrew (8-12, 2-5), meanwhile, used an 11-3 second-quarter advantage and 22-7 fourth-quarter advantage to claim the home-court blowout over Stagg.
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“Our kids played really hard tonight,” said Andrew coach Dan Lange. “We lost to them twice earlier, but we had a different attitude this time. And for the first time all year, everybody was healthy.”
Jason Markowicz, with 11 points, led four Thunderbolts in double figures. Jeff Clemons topped Stagg (13-7, 4-3) with 10.
Joliet (15-7, 5-2) kept pace with Lincoln-Way with an 81-70 victory over Lockport. Dwayne Edmon’s 18 points and Richard Terry’s 17 led the way. Jeff Blaesing’s 22 topped Lockport.
Dunbar 74, Gage Park 70: Montise Brown scored eight fourth-quarter points and DeMark Wilson added seven to keep Dunbar (13-6, 7-0) unbeaten in the Public Red Central. Edward McDaniel led the winners, who trailed 66-61 with three minutes left, with 24. Derrick McDonald had 20 for Gage Park.
Rich Central 88, Rich South 80 (OT): Marcus Jackson scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime in this SICA South showdown for first place. Kedric Baughn and Maurice Jackson each scored 19 to lead five in double figures for Rich Central (12-8, 5-2). J.T. Edwards and Demarcus Bolton each scored 17 for Rich South (12-7, 4-3).
“Maybe we have broken through the barrier,” said Rich Central coach Lee Boyko of his team’s first three-game winning streak. “We need to get on a roll at the end of the season, and this is as good a time as any.”
Rich South played without 17-point scorer Jason Sloane, out with a broken hand.
Fremd 82, Buffalo Grove 53: Paul Tharp scored 36 points, including 11 of 14 from the foul line, to lead Fremd (12-7, 4-3) in the Mid-Suburban North. “I thought he was all-world (Friday),” said Buffalo Grove coach Doug Millstone.
John Benedetti added 11 points to Fremd’s total, while Jason Siok led the host school with 15.
Lake Forest 37, Antioch 36: Antioch (9-12, 3-7) passed up two three-point attempts and settled for a layup at the buzzer, allowing Lake Forest (15-5, 6-4) to claim the North Suburban victory. Mark Gustavson’s 12 points led the winners, who used an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter. Antioch has lost eight games by five or fewer points.
“We didn’t come out ready to play, and we weren’t real focused early,” said Lake Forest coach Bill Donlon. “It’s a victory. It was ugly, but it’s a victory.”
Elgin Academy 79, Lake Forest Academy 74: In the Independent School League, Jeff Imming’s 18 points led Elgin Academy (17-5, 7-2).
Glenbard North 68, Glenbard East 67: Brian Becker’s 20 points and 14 from Rob Rup helped North triumph in the DuPage Valley.
East Aurora 59, Streamwood 43: Aaron McGhee’s 26 points lifted East Aurora (14-6, 9-2) in the Upstate Eight.
St. Francis de Sales 66, Leo 55: Lee Lampley tossed in 20 points and Sean Lampley 19 as De Sales (12-6, 5-4) won in the Catholic League South.
Reavis 52, Richards 41: Troy Boardman’s 22 points sparked Reavis (15-5, 5-2) in the SICA North.
U-High 78, Morgan Park Academy 76 (OT): Justin Slaughter poured in 30 points and David Moskowitz tipped in a miss at the buzzer to lift U-High (13-8, 7-2) past Morgan Park Academy and Reggie Hill’s 28 points in the ISL.
Bolingbrook 70, Romeoville 46: Bolingbrook (11-7, 6-1) stayed atop the SICA North as Jamaal Vargas netted 21 points and Jeff Ulaszek 10. Bolingbrook forced 22 turnovers.
Plainfield 74, Minooka 58: Plainfield (12-8, 3-3) hit nine three-pointers–five by Mike Sandon, who finished with 26 points–to earn the Suburban Prairie Red victory.
Crete-Monee 39, Bradley-Bourbonnais 30: Crete-Monee (12-8, 5-2) kept pace with Rich Central in the SICA South as Kenyea Beach scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter. Crete used second-half runs of 12-2 and 9-0 to take control. Bradley’s Brad Mann, averaging 22, managed just seven points.
Thornwood 62, Bloom 56: Maurice Linton’s 15 points and 10 rebounds and Delmarco Crawford’s 14 points–10 in the second half–lifted Thornwood (14-6, 3-4) in SICA East play. Kory Evans’ 18 points topped Bloom (17-5, 2-5). Thornwood used a 9-0 run late to earn the victory.
Ridgewood 69, Lemont 57: B.J. Cook poured in 28 points, Don McGhee 15 and Mike Bujalka 12 as Ridgewood (14-7, 6-2) knotted up the Suburban Prairie Blue with the victory. Lemont (10-10, 6-2), led by Jason Taylor’s 17 points, trailed throughout.
Aurora Christian 79, Illinois Math & Science Academy 41: Jed Cryder pumped in 19 points and Julian Harrell 18 as Aurora Christian (16-4) won its 74th straight at home.
Evanston 55, Glenbrook South 43: Mason Rocca, Evanston’s 6-foot-7-inch center, scored 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed a career-high 27 rebounds to keep the Wildkits (13-5, 6-1) tied with New Trier atop the Central Suburban South.
“Mason works real hard,” said Evanston coach Conte Stamas. “With his big size, he may be one of the best rebounders, not only on the North Shore, but in the state.”
Kevin Taylor’s 15 points led Glenbrook South (11-9, 3-4).
Gordon Tech 58, St. Martin de Porres 56: Chris Edwards scored 16 points, including the game-winning jumper with :04 left, as Gordon Tech (8-10, 3-5) earned the Catholic League triumph. Tyron Triplett led all scorers with 30 points for St. Martin (10-9, 5-4).
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Steinmetz 59, Mather 49: Steinmetz (13-6, 4-4) upended Public Red North leader Mather (16-5, 6-2) as Maurice Neely scored 24 points and Omar Martinez added 15 points and 11 rebounds. The game was tied at 47 with 3:16 to play. Sullivan, 5-2 in the section, had its game with Senn postponed because of the cold.
Prosser 64, Clemente 36: Ayinde Avery had 16 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks as Prosser (16-3, 8-0) won its eighth straight in the Blue North.
Downers Grove South 51, Willowbrook 25: Downers South (13-9, 6-2) earned the West Suburban Gold victory behind Antwaun Cubie’s 19 points.
St. Joseph 59, Holy Cross 43: St. Joseph (13-5, 8-0) jumped to a 15-2 lead and never trailed in the East Suburban Catholic contest. Aaron McIntosh’s 16 points led the winners.
St. Gregory 58, Providence-St. Mel 42: St. Gregory (11-9, 6-2) handed St. Mel (14-5, 7-1) its first Chicago Prep loss as Donny Cooper (16 points, 10 rebounds), Foster Moore (13 points, seven rebounds) and Marques Artz (12 points, seven rebounds) all had big games.
St. Patrick 62, Benet 59 (OT): Andy Anasinski scored 17 points before fouling out, and St. Patrick (12-8, 4-4) scored all six of its overtime points on free throws for the East Suburban Catholic victory.
Wheaton North 57, Naperville North 54: Wheaton North (13-7, 6-3) hit just two of eight free throws down the stretch and needed a jumper by Chris Neibch (11 points) with :02 left to clinch the DuPage Valley contest. Vincent Thomas led the winners with 13 points and six rebounds; Scott Kavanagh led Naperville North (9-10, 4-5) with 18.
Elmwood Park 37, Westmont 36: Obed Reyes’ three-pointer with :18 helped Elmwood Park (7-14, 4-4) earn the Suburban Prairie Blue victory.
Luther North 58, Luther South 57: Jason Vanpuymbrook, who scored 17 points, hit a free throw with :07 to play to give North the victory. The Braves (11-11, 7-6) had a shot to win the Private School League contest, but it missed. Nick Gottschalk led Luther North (9-13, 5-9) with 21, while Kevin Dixon topped South with 16.
Maine South 82, Maine West 61: Brian Schmitz scored 17 to lead three in double figures as Maine South (10-11, 3-4) earned the Central Suburban North victory.
East Aurora 59, Streamwood 43: Aaron McGhee’s 26 points lifted East Aurora (14-6, 9-2) in the Upstate Eight.