Crystal Lake South senior Ryan Brown had a memorable evening Friday–and, to make it more memorable, he did so at the expense of crosstown rival Crystal Lake Central.
Brown scored 29 points, including 11 of his team’s 17 points in a decisive third quarter that powered the Gators to a 58-42 victory. South had led just 26-20 at half.
“I was able to get inside and do whatever I wanted,” said Brown, a 6-foot-5-inch guard. “We’ve been known as a second-half team this whole season.”
While the Gators (16-5, 5-0 Fox Valley) were scoring 17 points in the third, they were holding Central’s Tigers (13-11, 3-2) to just eight.
“Being undefeated is nice,” said South guard Chris Azarela, who scored 11 points. “But the past is the past, and we treat every game like it’s the last.”
Every shot seemed to go the Gators’ way Friday. Azarela once slipped and threw up a prayer that found its way into the basket.
Azarela was fouled on the shot, and he completed the three-point play to give the Gators a 50-35 lead with 4:23 to play.
Joe Capalbo led Central with 13 points.
South had beaten Central 67-42 in non-conference play on Jan. 12. “We knew going in this was going to be tough,” Brown said. “We knew they would want to beat us bad on their court, but it didn’t happen.”
