Boys Basketball: Simeon holds on to down De La Salle

Updated: February 18, 2012 10:38PM

Jabari Parker always seems to take it to another level the brighter the lights.

In the final game of the City-Suburban Shootout, Parker illustrated why he is the country’s top prospect.

He scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the top-ranked Wolverines built a 16-point lead and staved off De La Salle’s fourth-quarter rally for the 59-51 victory Saturday night at Proviso West in Hillside.

Parker scored nine points in the first quarter, sparking separate Simeon runs of 8-0 and 12-0 as Simeon bolted out to a 22-6 lead after the first quarter. Parker opened the game in grand style, burying a three-pointer on the Wolverines’ opening possession.

He also scored on two beautiful drives and threw down a monster tip dunk off a Steve Taylor miss.

“I just thought at the beginning of the game, they weren’t really pressuring the ball, so I just took the open shots,” Parker said.

Simeon (26-1) also had motivation. Two years ago in the same event at UIC, De La Salle pummeled the Wolverines. “They kind of put in our face, so I wanted to get back at them,” Parker said. “Also, my brother [Christian] went there, and he didn’t really get an opportunity to play.”

Coming off its first city title in five years after beating No. 3 Curie Friday night, Simeon had just enough to hold off the Meteors. Parker, who turned the ball over an uncharacteristic six times, admitted feeling sluggish in the second half.

“In the first four or five minutes, we played like Simeon,” coach Robert Smith. “I’m not sure who we were in the second half.”

De La Salle (15-6) suffered 11 first half turnovers. They received a glimmer of hope after guard Demarcus Richardson hit a half court shot at the buzzer that pulled the Meteors within 30-19 at the break.

Simeon appeared to be coasting, holding a 13-point lead (41-28) entering the fourth quarter. De La Salle guard Marcus White exploded for three consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter. White’s second three-pointer pulled the Meteors within 50-46 with just over two minutes to play.

Simeon guard Jelani Neely converted two free throws. Taylor scored off Parker’s offensive rebound and assist. White (14 points) hit a final three-pointer that narrowed the gap to 54-49. Junior Kendrick Nunn contributed 14 points for the Wolverines. Junior Jaylon Tate, who played his first two years at De La Salle, scored seven points, all from the line, for the Wolverines off the bench.

Junior forward Gavin Schilling recorded 10 rebounds and eight rebounds for the Meteors. Alex Foster added eight points and nine rebounds. Alvin Ellis also scored eight for the Meteors.

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