Blackshear, Brown put on a show

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:46PM

In big games, that's when big players are expected to step up.

It doesn't always happen that way. Many a coach will inform you of that.

But on Wednesday night, in front of a capacity crowd, Hillcrest's Julius Brown, a four-year starter, and Morgan Park's Wayne Blackshear, the reigning SouthtownStar Player of the Year, did more than step up.

They put on a display that won't soon be forgotten by the near capacity crowd at the Rich South Sectional.

In fact, their performances will rank among the best.

Blackshear scored 28 points, Brown 26. Like two gun-slingers, the rivals tried in vein to lead their respective teams to victory and advancement to the sectional final.

Blackshear led his team out of a nine-point hole in the first-half and to a 12-point lead in the third quarter. The 6-foot-5 Louisville bound forward exhibited a vast array of moves, including crashing the boards, to help the Mustangs reverse the trend.

Brown did everything in his 5-foot-10 frame to produce a similar comeback for the Hawks. He drained three-pointers, drove to the basket, converted a 3-point play and made sound decisions with the ball.

He would rally Hillcrest to within a three-point deficit, 61-58. his NBA range trey with just under a minute to go had the Hawks within 75-71.

But the comeback that had Hawk Nation on its feet would never be completed.

Morgan Park notched an 80-76 win and with it, a rematch against Public League champion Brooks on Friday.

"We'll be ready," promised Blackshear. "This was a tough game. We expected that. But our goal is to win the state championship."

That was Hillcrest's goal, too - for a second straight season.

The defending Class 3A champions have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about. They won 21 games, extended the program's conference title streak to 23 straight and gave Morgan Park all it could handle.

"It was a tough fight," Hillcrest coach Don Houston admitted. "The kids did everything they could."

None more than Brown. After watching the young man the past four years, I've come to expect the never-say-die attitude from the soft-spoken Markham resident.

Not many kids can boast of playing their entire careers at Hillcrest on the varsity. And believe me, the Hawks have developed some incredible talent.

"He's such a classy kid," Houston said. "I don't know what I'm going to do without him. He's been here all four years with me."

Not that the fans who have watched him needed a reminder, But the sequence that occured for most of the third quarter between Brown and

Blackshear was special.

Blackshear registered eight points in the frame, helping the Mustangs to a seemingly comfortable 50-38 advantage. His two dunks, one coming off an alley-oop, the other on a vicious tomahawk through the lane, had the Rich South gym buzzing.

Brown, however, would not allow the defending state champions go down without a fight.

The Toledo recruit recorded 11 points, including two three-pointers and a three-point play, that allowed Hillcrest to cut the deficit to 61-56 entering the fourth quarter.

"We needed points on the board," Brown said. "I tried to deliver. I felt like I was on a roll. We gave it a good push. We left it all on the court."

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