Simeon and Von Steuben played so poorly in the first half Friday night at Chicago State, they decided to play past the final buzzer.
Well, not exactly, but No. 20 Von Steuben evened its record at 2-2 with a 64-60 double-overtime victory at the expense of the No. 6 Wolverines (2-1). The Panthers, playing without junior standout Angel Santiago for what coach Vince Carter called “a minor rules problem” and Paul Warren, out until next month with a broken foot, outscored Simeon 6-2 in the second overtime.
“Ryne Hamblet (20 points and 10 rebounds), Demtrious Evans (21 points) and Byron Johnson (12 points) gave above and beyond effort,” said Carter, who has yet to start his projected first team. “Especially Byron, who was out for over a week with the flu. He wasn’t hitting his shots like he normally does because he’s weak.”
Von Steuben broke a 58-58 tie to start the second overtime with two free throws by Hamblet. Simeon’s Calvin Brock, who led the Wolverines with 17 points, answered with a driving layup. Hamblet then followed a Johnson miss to give the Panthers a lead they never relinquished. A free throw by Greg Stubbs and one from Johnson, following a three-point attempt by Brock, ended the action.
Simeon had a chance to break the 58-58 tie near the end of the first overtime. Tim Green missed a pair of free throws with 2.6 seconds left, the first one going in and spinning out. A free throw by Jake Sparlin, who missed the second, had tied things following Hamblet’s fourth three-pointer.
Von Steuben broke out offensively in the third quarter and led 37-31 going into the final quarter. Hamblet opened the Panthers’ second half with a three-pointer and hit two more as Simeon was outscored 19-9 in the quarter. Simeon led 22-18 at the half.
“The first half we were kind of cold,” Hamblet said.
Simeon fought back in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines trailed 53-51 with Von Steuben’s Ahmed Ogunbumni shooting a free throw. Ogunbumni missed and then fouled Brock in a scramble for the rebound. Brock made two free throws to tie it 53-53 with 30 seconds left. Johnson’s three for the win fell short, forcing the OT.
