Boys Basketball: Frontcourt defense powers Simeon past Hyde Park

Updated: February 10, 2012 10:14PM

Jabari Parker and Steve Taylor get deserved acclaim for what they do offensively for Simeon. But it was what the pair did defensively that allowed the Wolverines to grab an early lead and hold on for a 65-44 victory over Hyde Park in the second round of the Public League Playoffs.

Simeon will face Marshall at 7 PM on Sunday at Chicago State University in a quarterfinal game.

“Our guards were trying to finish their drives too much early on,” Thunderbirds coach Antonne Samuels said. “Parker and Taylor kept blocking their shots.”

Simeon opened up a permanent lead in the first quarter. The top-ranked Wolverines (22-1) reeled off nine straight points to take an 11-5 lead. Parker scored three buckets and assisted on another in that span.

During that same stretch, Parker blocked three shots on the other end of the court and Taylor blocked one and altered another.

“That’s what they are supposed to do on defense,” Simeon coach Robert Smith said. “Jabari was contesting the shots and Steve was making them change their shots.”

The Thunderbirds (11-8) trailed by as much as 14 but remained within range for a comeback. Moshawn Thomas (10 points), Phillip Lee (11 points) and Marcus Smith (eight points) scored consecutive baskets to bring Hyde Park to within 42-35 midway through the third quarter.

That’s when Parker took a feed from Jaleni Neely and jammed home the momentum-stopping basket.

“He had the hot hand and the team found him,” Smith said. “He got all of his shots inside the offense. He doesn’t put up a lot of shots to get points like some other kids do.”

Parker tallied 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists. He shot 11-for-16 from the field including five dunks. The highlight of his throw-downs came in the fourth quarter when he soared in from the right side to put an exclamation point on his game and bring the large crowd to its feet.

Taylor added 14 points and 16 rebounds while Kendrick Nunn scored 15.

All-Public League guard Kyle Davis is no longer with Hyde Park. Samuels had no comment on his whereabouts.

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