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Boys Basketball: Billy Garrett Jr leads Morgan Park over Hinsdale Central
Morgan Park and Hinsdale Central played the first game during day one of the annual boys basketball Proviso West Holiday Tournament. The Final score was Hinsdale 50 and Morgan Park 49.Morgan Park's Billy Garrett Jr. controls the ball.
| Tamara Bell~Sun Times Media
Updated: December 27, 2011 3:08PM
Billy Garrett Jr. is the kind of shooter who has an instinctive feel for his own shot. He also knows when his shot feels off.
The junior had the presence of mind to follow up his own miss with a lay up with three seconds remaining that gave No. 16 Morgan Park the thrilling and deeply emotional 50-49 victory over Hinsdale Central in first-round play of the Proviso West tournament Tuesday morning.
"The first shot, I could feel it came off wrong and fortunately I was able to follow it and make the play," said Garrett, who scored a game-high 21 points despite missing 14-of-18 shots from the floor.
The dramatic result came just two days following the passing of Mac Irvin, the patriarch of the Irvin basketball family and founder of the iconic club team that bore his name. His youngest son, Nick Irvin, is the Mustangs' head coach. Garrett plays for the Mac Irvin Fire club team.
Mr. Irvin died from complications of diabetes on Christmas Eve.
"The kids wanted to win it for Pops," Nick Irvin said.
Garrett compensated by converting 12-of-14 at the free throw line. The basket was the Mustangs' only fourth quarter field goal.
"It got wild there at the end, but the team stayed together and made the plays," he said.
Garrett scored all 10 of the Mustangs' fourth quarter points. He shot 8-of-10 at the line in the final quarter. The Mustangs shot just 25 percent (14-56) from the field. No other player reached double figures. Adrian Jeffries scored seven points for Morgan Park.
Morgan Park (6-2) also prevailed despite the absence of 6-10 Xzavier Taylor, who missed the game because of a knee injury. The game featured several odd and unconventional turns. Morgan Park was assessed a technical for a uniform violation, despite Irvin asserting the team had a waiver from the IHSA.
Hinsdale Central coach Nick Latorre, had his best player, guard Brian Owens (18 points, six rebounds), deliberately miss the two free attempts.
Unfortunately for the Red Devils, poor free throw shooting proved an omen. Hinsdale Central (5-3) converted just 18-31 from the free throw line, including two crucial misses with 12 seconds and holding a 49-48 lead.
Hinsdale Central forward Tom Garvin (15 points, nine rebounds) gave the Red Devils the 47-46 lead with 46 seconds remaining on a turnaround jumper in the lane. Owens' two free throws extended the lead to 49-46.
Garrett, a DePaul recruit, said he plans to speak of the funeral of Mr. Irvin on Friday.
"He gave a lot of young people like myself the showcase to be seen on the [club] circuit," Garrett said. "He was the backbone of Chicago basketball."
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