Uplift knew its 11-0 start essentially would be rendered meaningless if it delivered a dud at Proviso West Holiday Tournament
It’s time to be impressed with the Titans.
Augustin Tronou had 21 points and 10 rebounds and five Uplift players scored in double figures Monday during an 81-71 victory against St. Charles East in a first-round game.
Jeremy Roscoe had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Quintin Olagbegi added 19 points and seven assists as Uplift (12-0) set up a second-round date with Morton (6-1) at 9 a.m. Friday.
“Since the beginning of the season this is all we’ve been talking about,” Tronou said. “We got ranked, but that is not enough. We want to win the Proviso tournament. All the big teams are here, so we want to make a name for ourselves.”
Uplift doesn’t have a lot of size, but has compensated with athleticism, smarts and, at least against St. Charles East, a dash of daring.
Roscoe helped stake the Titans to an early lead with eight first-quarter points, but he picked up his third foul less than seven minutes into the contest.
The smooth, 6-foot-2 junior played half the second quarter and 15 minutes in the second half before picking up his fourth.
St. Charles East (5-5) led briefly in the second quarter and was down by four midway through the third before Uplift took control with a 13-4 run.
The Titans shot 55.6 percent (30-for-54) in the victory.
“This is the first time in school history we’ve been invited to the Proviso West Tournament,” Uplift coach David Taylor said. “Everybody involved in the program — the players, coaching staff, even the principal and people at the school — are really excited about the recognition of getting invited. It does a lot for a small school (enrollment 379) like ours.”
Player of the game: Augustin Tronou, Uplift, 21 points, 10 rebounds.
Key performers: Uplift — Jeremy Roscoe, 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists; Quintin Olagbegi, 19 points, 7 assists; Jamaya Wyatt, 11 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists. St. Charles East — Cole Gentry, 14 points, 5 assists.
