North Chicago plays at only one speed. The state tournament is not going to change the Warhawks’ style or approach.
A year ago, North Chicago experienced its own shock to the system with an upset loss in the regional. Nothing focuses a team like the knowledge every game is possibly its last of the year.
“I’m a senior, and I didn’t want to go out in the regional like we did last year,” forward X’Zemenize Boose said.
Boose scored a career-high 20 points off the bench Tuesday night and the host Warhawks used its full-court pressure to relentless effect in gliding past Lake View 78-58 in the Class 3A North Chicago Regional semifinal.
North Chicago (16-10), the top seed of the Ridgewood Sectional, advances to play the winner of the Wednesday semifinal involving Johnsburg and Richmond-Burton.
Boose delivered a stunning second quarter, scoring 18 points as the Warhawks cruised to a 46-28 halftime lead.
During one stretch, Boose scored 10 straight points on an array of strong drives, pull-up jumpers and an attacking style that resulted in trips to the free-throw line.
His 3-point play on a jumper in the lane extended his blistering start to 13 of the Warhawks’ 15 points during a 17-4 spurt that put the game out of reach.
“My teammates did a great job of getting me the ball in the open floor and I just focused on knocking them down,” Boose said. “I don’t really focus on scoring. I’m just playing hard every night and I want to help the team get downstate.”
Boose provided a steady spark off the bench.
Simeon Henton performed his usual highlight reel of dunks, drives and spectacular rebounds in perfecting his role as a high-energy creator. He came up with four dunks and finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, six steals, four assists and two blocks.
“We just wanted to make a statement,” Henton said. “Some people doubted us that we were really a top seed, and we wanted to come out and show what we could do.
“My role is just to be that guy who goes there and does whatever it takes. That’s what I did.”
North Chicago forced 16 turnovers in the first half.
A member of the Public League’s White North, Lake View (9-16) hung around in the third quarter behind the shooting of sophomore guard Frank Graziano (16 points) and senior guard Kwesi Ayejumi (16 points).
The Wildcats cut a 23-point deficit to just 12 as North Chicago suffered through a stretch of passive play. Henton recovered his team’s momentum with a steal and dunk he converted into a 3-point play.
North Chicago used its depth as 10 players scored. Josiah Baldridge added nine points, Pierce Coleman contributed eight points, and Marreon White added seven points, six assists and five steals.
Sophomore guard Ishaun Walker also excelled off the bench with eight points.
Junior guard Jaylin Brown added 12 points for Lake View.
Carmel 65, Foreman 55: Sean Foster led all scorers with 18 points as Carmel (13-17) advanced to Friday’s Class 3A Antioch Regional final.
Lake Zurich 52, McHenry 42: Nick Penny scored a game-high 20 points to lead Lake Zurich (22-9) into Friday’s Class 4A McHenry Regional final.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance writer for the News-Sun. News-Sun staff contributed to this story.
Tuesday’s local scores
Class 4A Glenbrook North Regional
Deerfield 81, Maine East 55
Lake Forest vs. Glenbrook North late
Class 4A Loyola Regional
Notre Dame 65, Waukegan 51
New Trier vs. Loyola, late
Class 4A McHenry Regional
Lake Zurich 52, McHenry 42
Class 4A Maine South Regional
Stevenson 50, Highland Park 27
Maine South 44, Zion-Benton 43
Class 4A Warren Regional
Evanston 56, Glenbrook South 29
Class 3A Antioch Regional
Carmel 65, Foreman 55
Class 3A St. Patrick Regional
St. Patrick 78, Sullivan 37
Wauconda 65, Clemente 61
