Showtime came to Chicago State Friday night with each act building to a rousing crescendo.
First came an entertaining double-overtime frosh-soph game with Young edging Simeon. Next, the varsity halftime show featured five–count ’em–five separate acts, the best being Young’s “Dancing Guys ‘N’ Dolls” dance troupe.
But nothing could top the late show put on by Young’s 6-foot-5-inch junior Quentin Richardson whose offensive burst lifted the third-ranked Dolphins to a 64-53 victory over No. 17 Simeon before a packed house of more than 3,000.
Led by a scoring machine of a guard in Hyseal Sheppard (20 points), 6-6 Nehemiah Daniels (13 points) and 6-6 Bobby Simmons (11 points), Simeon (3-2) had battled back from a 36-25 halftime deficit to trail just 45-43 early in the fourth quarter.
Richardson scored Young’s first eight points in that quarter, including baskets off back-to-back steals. He also ignited a finishing burst that saw the Dolphins score seven points in 25 seconds, climaxed by a Cordell Henry three-pointer. Lonnie Holland added three baskets as Young (8-1) went on a 15-2 tear for a 60-45 lead with 2:23 left.
“Quentin can perform anywhere on the floor, but lately, he’s taken to shooting mostly from outside,” said Young coach George Stanton, who forbids his underclassmen from talking to the press. “When he does that, it throws our whole offense out of rhythm. Pretty soon, none of my starters were running the plays. And, they were just playing offense. Nobody was playing any defense.”
That can happen when your lineup is chock full of Division I prospects with Holland as the lone senior. Stanton stood staunch on his team principle, benching his starters one by one in the third period.
Although Young reserves such as 6-5 Oscar Townes, Charles Maclin, Walt Williams and David Roberson acquitted themselves well, they slowly allowed the Wolverines to creep within 43-39 going into the final eight minutes.
Having gotten his message across, Stanton reinserted his five best players. Henry, who is emerging as the Public League’s premier point guard, ran the offense like a clinician while scoring 13 points.
Richardson posted inside and wowed the crowd with his moves in the paint to finish with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Fellow 6-5 forward Dennis Gates stopped bombing away from the arc and wound up with 17 points. That left 6-8 center Corey Harris to hit the boards, and the steadily improving junior came away with 11 rebounds.
“These guys on my bench are players too,” Stanton said. “It’s just that my starting five is exceptional. I think our reserves wore Simeon out a little in the third quarter. They (Wolverines) didn’t have the same energy as our kids at the end.”
Simeon demonstrated the kind of talent that will keep the Wolverines in contention in the Red South and make them a team to watch in next week’s Pontiac Holiday Tournament.
“That’s a very strong ballclub out there,” Stanton said, gesturing to his opponents. “You can’t beat a team like that without playing a complete game. I believe you can learn a lesson and still win.”
