Ever since losing for the second time to eventual division champion Vernon Hills, North Chicago High School’s boys basketball team has turned its focus toward winning a Class 3A sectional title for the fifth straight year.
That quest will begin when the calendar changes to March. But the Warhawks are building a bit of momentum as they head toward the playoffs.
Last Friday’s 55-51 victory over Wauconda completed a sweep of the two-game season series, even though North Chicago is the No. 7 seed in the Vernon Hills Sectional and Wauconda is No 6.
This victory gave the 12-14 Warhawks an 8-4 record in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division heading into Tuesday’s game at Class 4A power Lake Zurich.
Wauconda is 14-11 overall, finished 7-5 in the NSC Prairie and plays at Lake Forest on Tuesday.
Leading North Chicago’s win over Wauconda were Courtez Zinnerman-Dixon and sophomore Simeon Henton. Dixon had 17 points and eight steals, while Henton also scored 17. Sophomore Terrell Grier grabbed eight rebounds.
Boys/Vernon Hills 62, Grant 49: The Cougars finished 12-0 in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division and will take a 25-3 record into Wednesday’s North Suburban Conference championship game at Stevenson. Robby Nardini had 26 points in the Friday win. Pierre Bailey had 11 points for Grant.
Boys/Libertyville 86, Zion-Benton 80: Zion seems to struggle against teams with tall players, and this result completed a two-game season sweep for Libertyville. Conor Peterson, 6-6, led the winners with 22 points and 6-10 Joe Borcia added 12. Zion got 24 points from sophomore Damarquis Henry, 19 from Admiral Schofield and 16 from Devonte Maynard. Zion was outscored 24-9 at the free-throw line.
Boys/Lakes 55, Antioch 33: Lakes’ swarming defense limited Antioch to one second-quarter point and 10 total for the first three quarters in this North Suburban Conference Prairie Division game. The Eagles (15-12) finished 9-3 in the division. Ethan Sage had 12 points and Jacob Balliu nine in the win.
Boys/Lake Zurich 65, Mundelein 39: Mike Travlos had 23 points for the victorious Bears.
Boys/Grayslake Central 69, Woodstock North 45: David Llorens had 22 points to lead the Rams, who outscored the Thunder 21-6 in the fourth quarter.
Boys/Deerfield 66, Maine East 49: The Central Suburban League North Division champs got 17 points from Nick Zwart and 15 from Joey Lane. They will play Evanston on Wednesday in the CSL’s title game.
Boys/Stevenson 65, Lake Forest 48: Jalen Brunson, the overwhelming favorite to be crowned Illinois’ next Mr. Basketball, led the winners with 26 points, four assists and four steals in his 100th career victory for the Patriots. Connor Cashaw added 16 points, and role players Ryan Rosenbaum (eight points, 4-for-4 from the field) and Ryuji Aoki (six points, two 3-pointers) chipped in during a 13-1 second-half run that put the game away. Lake Forest, which lost 76-69 to Stevenson Jan. 15, got 14 points and 17 rebounds from Evan Boudreaux. Stevenson led 34-23 at halftime and was not challenged after the break.
Girls/Antioch 59, St. Viator 39: Antioch (28-3) had no trouble with St. Viator in the finals of the Class 3A Wauconda Regional, and the top-seeded Sequoits will play Regina Dominican on Tuesday at Antioch in the sectional semifinals. This one was over quickly as Antioch led 25-14 after a quarter and 39-17 at the half. Amy Reiser had 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the winners and twin sister Ashley Reiser scored 11 points. Carly McCameron grabbed 13 rebounds in the win.
Girls/North Chicago 50, Lakes 38: The teams split two regular-season games. This win gives the Warhawks three consecutive regional titles, which are the only ones in school history. They have never won a sectional game and will play Vernon Hills on Tuesday at Antioch.
Girls/Buffalo Grove 59, Stevenson 55: The Patriots were the last area team playing in the 4A tournament, so no area school won a Class 4A regional this year.
