It’s often been stated that familiarity breeds success.
If that’s the case, Morgan Park could be in line for a rewarding weekend.
For the third consecutive season, the Mustangs (22-6) will compete in the Class 3A finals at Carver Arena in Peoria.
Same locker rooms, same backboards, same rims, same court, same surroundings.
And, quite possibly, the trip ending with the same result as the previous two — Morgan Park hoisting the 3A state trophy for a third straight time.
The Mustangs take on Belleville Althoff at 12:15 p.m. Friday in a 3A semifinal. The winner advances to Saturday’s state championship against the winner of the other semifinal between Rockford Lutheran and St. Joseph. Tipoff for the title game is at 2 p.m.
“I definitely think it’s an advantage,” Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said of having gone through the state finals experience. “Most of my guys have been there before. They know what to expect. We know how everything is. There are no surprises.”
The same can’t be said for Belleville Althoff (27-3), which is making its first-ever Final Four appearance in boys basketball. The bright lights, big crowds and capacious surroundings of Carver Arena can be intimidating, especially for first-timers.
“It can be a little overwhelming,” Irvin admitted. “But not anymore for us.”
The Crusaders are coming off their most lopsided win of the season, having dismantled Mahomet-Seymour 79-49 in the Springfield Supersectional.
Althoff turned a one-point halftime lead into a cakewalk, thanks in large part to drilling eight 3-pointers in the third quarter.
The Crusaders, who started the season with 10 consecutive wins and have won 16 of their last 17, are led by sophomore Jordan Goodwin, who averages 19.7 points and 8 rebounds. But as they proved on Tuesday, other players such as Brendan Gooch (team-high 18 points), Tarkus Ferguson (14) and reserve Marvin Bateman are more than capable of picking up the slack.
Additionally, Althoff has considerable motivation to defeat Morgan Park beyond the excitement of reaching the state championship game. A semifinal victory could provide a chance to gain redemption against St. Joseph, which beat the Crusaders on Feb. 7 by a 97-95 count.
“I’m sure they want another shot at St. Joe’s,” Irvin said. “They’re going to come out against us with a lot of energy and try to put us away early.”
Morgan Park and Belleville Althoff should develop into an interesting matchup, considering both teams prefer an uptempo style. Morgan Park boasts two of the state’s most dynamic guards in senior Marcus LoVett and junior Charlie Moore. The duo combined for 37 points during a 64-53 win Tuesday over Hillcrest in the Joliet Central Supersectional.
“We have to stay aggressive, both Charlie and me,” said LoVett, who is averaging 19.2 points. “Try not to force things and take what the defense is giving us. I’m ready to do whatever to help my team win. “
The Crusaders aren’t overly big. Gooch is the tallest player on their roster at 6-foot-6. The lack of size is something the Mustangs may try to exploit, having 6-8 Alonzo Chatman (8.1 points), who is more of a defensive presence, and reserves Lenell Henry, 6-9, and Melo Burrell, 6-7. Beyond the scoring power of LoVett and Moore (18.1 points), starters Jamal Burton (8.2 points) and Jarrin Randall (7.4 points) have the ability to create fireworks.
“We have to make sure Alonzo establishes the inside early,” Irvin said. “They’re a very active team. They love to get up and down the floor. We have to put a body on them and make them uncomfortable. Slow them down.”
If Morgan Park can execute its game plan, it should be in position to advance to the title game.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Moore said. “Not many teams have a chance to win three state championships in a row. We have to keep doing what we’re doing. It’s exciting.”
Twitter: @disabato
