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Boys Basketball: Glenbrook North captures Central Suburban crown
Waukegan's Jordan Johnson drives in for the layup during their CSL Crossover Championship game at Glenbrook North Feb. 22. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 22, 2012 11:11PM
Glenbrook North rode hot first-half shooting to an 88-49 rout of visiting Waukegan Wednesday in the Central Suburban League championship game.
The Spartans (19-6) hit 35 of 50 shots from the field while holding Waukegan’s shooting stars — Akeem Springs and Jordan Johnson — to a combined 2-of-17 shooting and the Bulldog team to 36 percent (17-of-47).
“This is the best all-around performance we’ve had all season,” said Glenbrook North coach Dave Weber, whose team averaged 53.5 points per game this season with a single-game high of 71. “It was incredible to watch tonight. This was a big win for the CSL North. I’m proud of the kids. They really stepped up and played well.
“Our transition game is our strength and it showed against Waukegan’s pressure. We got some easy shots that led to our great start.”
The game was tied 7-7, and then Glenbrook North went on a 19-2 run around the first-quarter break to blow the game open at 26-9. It was 38-19 at halftime, 61-31 after three quarters, and the biggest lead was 75-35 in the fourth quarter.
And the Spartans did it without starting point guard Kurt Karis (12.2 points-per-game average), who sat out with back spasms.
In his stead, Adam Chick played the point and the offense didn’t miss a beat, as he scored 18 points.
Center Andrew McAuliffe, who missed two months during the heart of the season with a fractured bone in his leg, was back in top form, hitting 9-of-13 shots for a team-high 19 points.
“This was a big game for us,” McAuliffe said. “We came out with intensity and wanted to win. My teammates found me under the basket and I was able to score for us.”
Mark Johnson added 18 points for the winners.
The lone bright spot for Waukegan was the play of high-flying junior Devonte Taylor, who scored 20 points. But even that went bad for the Bulldogs, as he left the game limping in the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t play hard and we didn’t play well at all tonight,” said Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw, whose 15-10 team has now lost two straight after winning nine in a row.
“We forced shots on offense and we did not make smart decisions with the ball. We need to start playing with intensity and share the ball on offense to be successful.”
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