Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello has been searching for a leader for his talented team, which at times this season has struggled to find an identity and team chemistry.
Friday night against Homewood-Flossmoor, Chiuccariello thinks he may have found his man after the Astros pulled off a fourth-quarter rally for a 55-49 SICA East win.
“We’ve talked to these guys all year about picking each other up and staying positive under adversity,” Chiuccariello said. “Tonight Mike Hall kept us calm and did everything right.”
The 6-foot-7-inch senior asserted himself offensively and on the boards. He finished with 27 points and 18 rebounds and, to the liking of his coach, kept his overzealous teammates calm at crucial points of the game.
Hall would score 11 of those points in the final quarter, including all seven in a game-ending 7-2 run. The Astros (20-5, 5-5) outscored the Vikings 16-9, erasing a 40-39 deficit at the end of the third quarter.
Hall’s best play of the game, however, may have been when he made sure that point guard Lorenzo Yelder didn’t get a technical late in the final quarter with Shepard up by four.
After a timeout the referee didn’t like how Yelder threw the ball to the side and ordered him to retrieve it or he would get the technical. Yelder got the ball but argued with the referee before Hall grabbed the ball out of his hands, handed it to the referee and pulled his excited teammate back into the huddle.
“I tried to step in and make sure we didn’t get a technical at a crucial time of the game,” Hall said. “I’ve been criticized by fans about not being a leader and I’m trying to do that before we start the playoffs. If we’re going to go far we’re going to need leadership.”
Mike Smith added 12 points for Shepard, while Adam Dauksas led the Vikings (17-9, 4-6) with 14 points and nine boards.
Bill Harrison.
Up next for Shepard: Wednesday at home vs. Oak Forest in Oak Lawn sectional
1. Joliet
Kellen Easley’s 16 points and seven rebounds were just enough as the Steelmen (25-1, 12-0) survived a scare from Sandburg in a 58-53 SICA West victory.
Sandburg trailed 54-53 with 4 seconds left and stole the ball from Joliet, but the Eagles called for a timeout they did not have and were assessed a double technical. Joliet made four free throws to clinch the victory.
Jeff Larson scored 16 points to lead Sandburg (13-13, 5-7), which trailed by as many as 16.
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Bremen or Marist in Oak Lawn sectional.
2. West Aurora
Jaeh Thomas scored 22 points as the Blackhawks (23-2, 13-1) soared past West Chicago 80-41 in the DuPage Valley. Shaun Pruitt added 17 points and Dameon Mason 16 for West Aurora. Nick Michael’s 17 points led West Chicago (8-17, 2-12).
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Illinois Math and Science or Bolingbrook in East Aurora sectional.
3. Proviso East
Dee Brown and Shannon Brown scored 28 points each as the Pirates (22-2, 12-0) blew out Willowbrook 89-55 in the West Suburban Gold.
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Willowbrook or Nazareth in Argo sectional.
9. Thornwood
David Moss scored 19 points and Melvin Buckley added 12 points and seven rebounds as the Thunderbirds (22-4, 10-0) held off Bloom 58-53 in the SICA East.
The Thunderbirds built a 58-46 lead with 42 seconds left, but Bloom scored the final seven points of the game.
Bloom (15-11, 2-8) played without Joe Chapman, who sat out the game with tendinitis in his knee. Antonio Cool led the Trojans with 28 points.
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Thornton Fractional South or Lincoln-Way East in Bloom sectional.
11. Brother Rice
Marty Masterson had 18 points and four three-pointers to lead the Crusaders (22-4, 12-1) to a 62-54 victory over Providence in the Catholic League. Masterson made three three-point baskets as Brother Rice jumped out to a 14-4 lead.
Michael Lindsey had 21 points for Providence (15-10, 7-6).
Up next: Wednesday at home vs. Joliet Catholic in Oak Lawn sectional.
12. Thornton Fractional North
The Meteors (21-4, 10-2) rallied from 17 points down but couldn’t hold a brief fourth-quarter lead as Hillcrest won 74-67 in the SICA Central. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Wednesday at home vs. Bradley-Bourbonnais in Bloom sectional.
13. Hillcrest
Shelby Jordan had 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Hawks (21-5, 11-1) downed No. 12 T.F. North 74-67 in the SICA Central. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Marian Catholic in Bloom sectional.
17. Thornridge
Deanta Hollins scored 11 points and Tristan Parham added 10 points and eight rebounds as the Falcons (17-8, 7-3) routed Thornton 47-23 in the SICA East.
Up next: Wednesday at home vs. Crete-Monee in Bloom sectional.
19. Neuqua Valley
Keelan Amelianovich scored 18 points and John Maples added 17 points as the Wildcats (24-2, 14-0) downed Lake Park 73-63 in the Upstate Eight. Neuqua Valley was 37-35 in the third quarter, but Maples went on a personal 12-0 run to put the Wildcats up 10.
Guiseppe Muzzupappa scored 19 points to lead Lake Park (14-12, 8-6).
Up next: Wednesday at home vs. Marmion in East Aurora sectional.
20. Waubonsie Valley
Derrick Clanton scored 14 points and Morris Ellis added 11 points and nine rebounds as the Warriors (25-1, 13-1) defeated Elgin 55-33 in the Upstate Eight. Quintin Howard and Jason Echevarria scored 11 points apiece to lead Elgin (10-16, 5-9).
Up next: Wednesday at home vs. Romeoville in East Aurora sectional.
