Top-ranked Westinghouse delighted a standing-room crowd of 7,643 at the UIC Pavilion on Saturday with a performance that will cause a little anxiety among those still playing for the Class AA state championship.
After one quarter, Westinghouse (31-0) had almost equaled Wisconsin’s point total–32–in its NCAA tournament opener.
After one half, the Warriors were close to matching the New York Knicks’ output–63–against the Bulls.
With its best game of the season, Westinghouse routed No. 14 Julian 90-64 to claim a spot in Sunday’s title game against No. 4 King (25-6). Led by Stanley Thomas’ 22 points and Leon Smith’s 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, King cruised past No. 13 Simeon 68-43.
In their only previous encounter, Westinghouse edged King in double overtime to win the Public League’s Christmas tournament.
“Yes, King is playing a lot better since then,” Westinghouse coach Chris Head said. “But we’re a lot better too.”
“What we learned from that first game is that we can play with Westinghouse,” King guard Imari Sawyer said. “There isn’t any pressure on us. We’re not the ones who are 31-0. We know what a loss feels like, they don’t.”
Westinghouse shot 75 percent from beyond the three-point arc in the first half in accelerating to a 55-32 halftime lead. The Warriors wound up converting 10 of 16 from long distance.
Heading up the Westinghouse assault was 5-foot-8-inch point guard David Bailey, who scored 27 and hit 5 of 7 three-pointers.
“When my first three went in, I knew I was going to have a good day,” Bailey said. “We came out with more intensity” than in Tuesday’s 66-62 win over Dunbar.
Westinghouse’s players and coaching staff were incensed over a newspaper article in which King coach Landon Cox said he thought the Warriors had reached their peak at Christmas.
“I read the story,” Cedrick Banks, who finished with 27 points and hit 4 of 5 three-pointers. “They were saying we wouldn’t get to the championship game. That really helped to motivate us.”
Westinghouse led just 10-9 when Bailey hit a three-pointer and then scored on a four-point play. Banks followed with his fourth straight basket and Julian (24-6) never recovered.
Demario Eddins finished with 16 points for Julian, which was making its first appearance in the city’s final four.
“This was our best first half in 31 games,” Head said. “These kids came out focused.
“What happened to us since last Tuesday? There was a brainstorm. Our players realized they had played badly, and to get to the championship game, they’d have to play a lot better.”
With Sawyer playing at a controlled pace because of a sprained ankle, King’s offense ran smoother than ever–in the second half. King struggled to a 22-21 lead after two quarters.
“I’d call it a little stage fright,” Smith said. “Some of our guys weren’t used to playing before a big crowd on such a big floor. At halftime, we seniors realized it was up to us if we wanted to keep on playing.”
Smith, Thomas and Sawyer–who finished with 13 points and nine assists–sparked an 18-7 run at the outset of the third quarter that left Simeon (26-7) thinking about next year. The Wolverines, who were led by Dwayne Williams’ 14 points, never came within nine in the fourth.
“(Imari) couldn’t pick up the slack, so I had to step in,” Thomas said. “Coach has been telling me to take my shot all season. In the playoffs, I started listening to him.”
So, what does Simeon coach Bob Hambric think about Sunday’s game?
“If King takes care of the ball, they can be successful,” Hambric said. “That’s the bottom line.”
