The length of its players gives Young a chance to compete with any opponent on any night. The length on its bench might be unmatched in Illinois and could go a long way toward winning a state title.
Young used its superior size and depth to earn a trip to Peoria on Friday with a 62-47 victory over Hyde Park in the 4A supersectional Tuesday night at Chicago State.
Stanford Brown, a 6-foot-8-inch senior, had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Young got strong contributions from eight players in earning its first trip Downstate since winning the Class AA title in 1998. The Dolphins will face Thornton (29-1) in the semifinals.
“Coach told me in the locker room, ‘First play of the game you have to dunk to show that we’re serious,'” said Brown, who obliged by slamming home an air ball on Young’s first possession. “Everybody on this team comes to play.
“This is the best feeling ever, being the first Young team in 11 years to go Downstate.” Injured starters Ahmad Starks (wrist) and Anthony Johnson (ankle) came off the bench for Young (24-9), but the Dolphins looked plenty strong while they sat out the first quarter.
Brown was a beast on the boards, finishing the quarter with eight points and seven rebounds — five offensive — in staking Young to a 16-7 lead.
Hyde Park made a brief run in the second when Young guard Marcus Jordan went to the bench with two fouls. But Johnson, who missed the sectional final, celebrated his return with two quick dunks, freshman reserve Derrick Randolph hit a deep three-pointer and Brown continued to dominate as Young took a 29-19 lead at halftime and led by 19 after three.
Jerome Moore (13 points) and Anthony Dixon (14 points) fueled a 13-3 run that cut Hyde Park’s deficit to 49-40 with just more than five minutes remaining, but Jordan (10 points, six rebounds), Brown and senior guard Chris Colvin (13 points) wrested control.
