Rashaan Melvin knew it wasn’t the New Trier defense and the extra attention it paid to Jereme Richmond that was keeping the ball out of the basket.
But Melvin was pretty sure what the problem was.
“We just weren’t making shots,” he said. “We just had to execute the plays the coaches gave us and start making shots.”
Melvin took matters into his own hands, knifing through the Trevians’ 1-3-1 half-court trap and scoring 19 of his 24 points in the second half to lead Waukegan back from a 12-point deficit for a 47-38 upset of No. 11 New Trier on Friday in Waukegan.
Waukegan (5-3, 3-0 Central Suburban South) won its fifth straight since Richmond returned from a three-game suspension at the outset of the season, while New Trier (6-2, 2-1) lost its second straight.
“They were keying on Jereme Richmond,” Melvin said of the talented 6-foot-6-inch sophomore who already has committed to Illinois.
“We needed someone else to step up and score. It was big to show people that we have other options.”
Waukegan managed just 11 points in the first half and trailed 25-13 with about 5 minutes remaining in the third when Melvin kick-started the Waukegan offense with a three-pointer.
Richmond (13 points, six rebounds) followed with a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to seven.
Melvin then scored nine straight points on two runners, a steal and layup and a three-pointer to give Waukegan its first lead since 2-0 at 27-25.
Tim McCrary (eight points, seven rebounds) brought New Trier even for the final time with 45 seconds left in the third, but consecutive lay-ins by Richmond and reserve Colin Nickerson finished off an 18-2 run and gave the Bulldogs a 31-27 lead entering the final period.
“They were 6-6, 6-7 — their whole team was big,” Melvin said of the Trevians, whose shortest starter is 6-4.
“We had to penetrate the gaps and hit the open shots or find the open man.”
