February 18, 2020 • 21 mins
Jake and Josh break down a busy DuKane Conference stretch from last week before looking ahead to regionals for girls basketball.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:03):
All right, Josh, we're recording. We're doing this remote this week all
everybody. Welcome into the King CountyPreaps Basketball Podcast. Jake Parson, Josh
Walgie here for another edition. Josh, how was your weekend good? You
know, we had a fair amountof basketball on Friday, a little bit
on Saturday, and then we hadquite a bit of quite a bit of
wrestling on Saturday. I know youwere at Cone following the goings on and
(00:27):
saw a number of qualifiers there andand I think you're gonna be following the
path to Champagne this weekend. Socertainly an exciting time of the year,
not only in basketball but in severalsports as we kind of head into the
postseason. In all of those,absolutely, and we saw a number of
high quality games on Friday. We'llstart with the guys here, Josh.
(00:48):
Um. I guess we had tostart with the big one St. Charles
St. Charles East, you know, getting the second game of that series,
Saint Charles East coming in with aten game win streak and Saint Charles
North able to pull it out ontheir home floor and stop that. I
know Jerry Fitzpatrick was there for us, but you know, when you just
read the story, you kind ofjust got the sense of how how competitive
(01:14):
it was, and you know,North got some key contributions, one from
Thomas Kellen, also Ethan Marlowe witha career high. So an exciting game
for North. Yeah, obviously abig game in that league. Those two
teams came in leading the conference.And he mentioned Saint Charles East had a
rather lengthy winning street coming in.North had beaten them earlier in the year,
(01:34):
and you know North has had youknow, a couple losses here and
there since Christmas. Obviously they're atPontiac, but they've played a really challenging
schedule and so kind of wondered howthis will work out because East did come
in red hot. But I thinkNorth kind of re established themselves that if
they haven't already as a team that'sdefinitely gonna be one to watch not only
(01:57):
for the next couple of weeks butinto the postseason, because they have the
guys that we know, that theguys that the the average fan knows,
like the Connor linky that's going toBradley uh Luke Sheffer's a really good point
guard. But then when those guyshave just kind of regular games. Then
they have guys like Ethan Marlow arereally talented sophomore, and Thomas Kellen and
and it just seems like every gamethere's a different guy that kind of steps
(02:21):
up for them. And you know, he wondered how that game was gonna
go. Where Saint Charles East likesto play that game where they have the
depth, and they kind of pressedgames and just kind of wear them out.
And it sounds like North kind ofmaybe maybe beat them at their own
game or just did it better,although they were down twelve early. But
um, certainly that's a really goodwin for Saint Charles North. But I
(02:44):
think both of those teams are goingto be heard from before it's all Senate
done this year. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, no, this one.
I really think that this is theyear for Satt Charles East in particular to
get over that regional hump. Youknow, it's been the last about three
years they lose in the regionals,not able to get that title of North.
Of course, last year UM goingon to the sectional semifinal, getting
(03:05):
their first regional in ten years.So I think there's plenty more basketball for
for those two teams. Um Joshthe other kind of big one. Obviously,
it was kind of that rivalry Friday. Uh, you know, Geneva
and Batavia. Um, Jaden Johnsonas a monster game, thirty plus points,
but Josh Preston and Geneva had somethingelse to say about it, and
uh able to pull that out.Yeah, just kind of reading the story,
(03:29):
it didn't sound like Josh Preston wasparticularly happy that Geneva lost to Petavia
earn a year understandably so losing onher home courts, Geneva's had an upper
hand that that rivalry, but hereally responded at eighteen points in that game,
and and just was kind of,um, you know the story in
that game, and Geneva comes outwith a six point win. Um,
you mentioned Jada Johnson, he hada really big weekend. I think he
(03:50):
had like thirty two against Plainfield Souththe next day. Um, obviously a
really good player. But but Genevacomes out on top of that, um,
you know, very game. Andand like you said, it was
certainly a rivalry weekend in the JukanConference because Wheat and South and Wheat and
North played as well, and thistime Wheat and North coming out on top
of Wheat and South so, um, you know a lot of big games
(04:14):
in that league. But Geneva getsa good win, Saint Charles North gets
a good win. So that that'skind of where that stood on Friday night.
UH, kind of tossing around theKent County area. Caitlin UH played
Plane on Friday and Caitlin actually ledthat game for most of the at least
they led late in the game.UM, despite losing Bryce Eber to an
(04:35):
injury a few minutes in. UM, they led in that game, but
then Plano kind of stole it late. UM. I think they had a
like a layoup and then there wasa free throw that was missed. But
then there's a couple of rebounds andthen Griffin Cross gets the rebound and makes
two free throws. So a toughloss for Canlan M on a road against
Plano. But but you've seen boththose teams and Plano as a talented team.
(04:57):
Oh yeah, you can't. Yeah, no, no denying that one.
And I think the first time Isaw them, h Camland was able
to actually to come back. Ithink there was a couple ten point deficits
in that one that they're able tocome back from. But you know,
just with the combined talent in thefront court height that that Plano has.
Um, you know, they wereable to, you know, kind of
just steal that away towards the end, and it kind of sounds like it
(05:18):
was similar here and get too.Yeah, definitely game that could have gone
either way and sounds like kind ofa wild game with I think there's maybe
some pedical foul that there's maybe atleast one parent as subjected in that game,
which you know we've seen in gamesthings get all heated sometimes, but
certainly kind of a wild game,you know. Before we transition over to
(05:39):
the girls side, I wanted totouch on some some teams and matchups that
are outside of the King County area. We mentioned that last Friday was sort
of the unofficial rivalry night and itextended to Oswego. Um. I was
at Oswego East to see Oswego andOswego East for their second match of this
year, and came in and thinking, Wow, this is gonna be a
really exciting game with team two goodteams and a really close game. And
(06:02):
boy was I wrong. Aswego Eastgot out to a sixteen to two start.
It was thirty one to eleven byhalftime, and it really never never
got the sense that it was goingto get to where it might be a
close game. Late I think Swegogot into maybe twelve or fourteen or something
like that, but Oswego East reallydominated and they're playing well. Sam Schultz,
(06:26):
you've seen him already. He missedthe first month or so with that
recovery from a torn meniscus, buthe had a big game. He had
twenty one points and eleven rebounds,and he also scored his one thousands career
point. So it was a reallygood night for him, and and so
congratulations to him. His older sister, Sidney Schultz, who's now in Missouri
State, she graduated as the alltime leading scorer for the girls program there,
(06:50):
so kind of exciting thing for him. And I kidded with him.
I said, hey, you knowyou're still behind your sister, right And
then he said, well, yeah, but she did in four years.
I did it in two and ahalf. It's it's kind of fun,
that sibling robbery. But he's afun kid and really talented player. But
but a Sweets they are going tobe a team I think to watch down
(07:10):
the stretch. I've mentioned it before. They've had a lot of injuries.
I feel like they've maybe had theirfull unit for maybe a couple of games
this year. They're still without akid coming off the bench for them,
but they do have their starters andtact and Sam Schultz is a really talented
player that's getting closer and closer toone hundred percent. He sure looked like
you one hundred percent on Friday.Will Wolf is a really talented player alongside
(07:33):
Grayson Gets. I really like himas a point guard, as a kid
that can facilitate and maybe knock downa few shots. Tremont Brewers a really
talented defenders. So a Sweets isa team to watch. And I think
in that sectional where there's a BowlingBrook and the enjoy At West and a
Wabonzi, three really good teams,I think Oswego East putting themselves maybe right
(07:54):
right next to them and maybe rightjust a touch behind those three teams.
A sweet Ease plays w Bonzi tomorrownight. Um On the other side,
Oswego they've had a great year there. I think they're seventeen and three at
one point. They've they've kind ofhit a tough tough stretch. They've lost
five of their last six games.Um, they lost in a I think
like a last second shot to WheatNorth on Saturday night. Um, but
(08:16):
they're just kind of in a ina tough stretch right now. They kind
of struggled at times defensively, theystruggled to score on Friday night. But
I do think that they'll get itturned around. They have a lot of
seniors, so um, they're gonnawant to finish their season strong. So
but but that's where I was onFriday night. And then another big game
on Friday night, h Bennett.Bennett Academy was playing Nile's Notre Dame,
(08:39):
who is the number one ranked teamin Class three A, and Bennett came
out with a really big win.They come away with I think it was
a two point win. Um,they got sixteen points from Tyler van Ekern
and then uh got a big stoplate in the game. So, um,
that was a very impressive win forBennett. A team that you've seen
and I've seen this year. Idon't know they when I see him in
(09:01):
layup line and during the game,you know, nothing really jumps out.
But they're always a team traditionally thatseems to play their best basketball late in
the year and they certainly are.Um. That so a really good win
for them. Yeah, and thenI know the two they played La Loumier.
I'm probably screwed up that name,but I'm really tallenged that out in
(09:24):
I believe Indiana. UM, Iactually have a mutual friend that works on
that staff there, and so thatwas kind of an exciting thing for them.
Yeah. Yeah, they played Lumieror whatever I pronounced. They played
them on Saturday night. Um theteam from Indiana that I'm gonna just not
say anymore. Uh, they havethe number one ranked kid in Indiana.
(09:45):
It's going to produe. I don'tknow they can't remember his name. But
Bennett didn't lose that game as closegame. I think they lost by five
or six, But obviously a reallychallenging weekend for Bennett and King County fans
just kind of circled us. Onthe calendar, I believe it's February twel
the eighth Saint Charles North Bennett.That's the game I got my eye on
in a couple of weeks. Thatshould be a very interesting game. Those
(10:07):
teams always seem to play each otherat the end of the year. It's
oh it's kind of a nice,little kind of Brometer game going into the
playoffs. So that's one to keepan eye on. And before we go
over to the girls side, Igot to see another really good team on
Saturday Night, Hinsale South from Darien. UM. They've had just a fantastic
year they had last year. They'retenant sixteen I believe, and they came
(10:28):
into Saturday Night twenty six and two. I mean that that's that's a that's
such a dramatic improvement. And it'snot like they added a bunch of new
guys. It's basically a bunch ofjuniors that are now seniors that they just
really worked in the game and gota lot better. UM they had won
fifteen in a row coming into thegame, they had already broken the school
(10:48):
record for wins. Unfortunately, theydidn't come out of the losing end,
but it was a tough game.They played pro vis the least did they
beat overtime earlier in the year.UM. They got down thirteen and the
four quarter, didn't shoot really well, got out rebounded. But then they
looked like a team that's twenty sixand two because they didn't go away late.
They came back and they actually tooka lead in the last two minutes
(11:09):
of the game, but they endedup losing by two. But Hinsdale South
definitely a team to watch in Classthree A as we head into the playoffs
in a couple of weeks, andthen joshual quickly before we jump over to
the girls, I would be remissnot to mention Brett Porto, Burlington sent
basketball coach, yep, becomes theprogram leader in wins coach, you know,
(11:31):
as he coached and um, that'sa really cool thing he was able
to accomplish on Saturday against McHenry.Porto of course grew up and played for
Burlington Central when he was in highschool and able to come back and obviously
coach and and and get that mark. Congratulations to him. Yeah, but
I have a feeling when its allsaid it done, he's gonna have that
record by quite a long market becausehe's not an old man by eddy stretch
(11:54):
though. He's done a great jobthere and have another good season there,
So I guess we'll kind of headover onto the girl's side. And Geneva
blocked up a share of the conferencechampionship in the Ducaye Conference last week,
they came away and they won atLake Park and kind of much anticipated rematch,
(12:15):
and you were there, tell meabout that a little bit. First
of all, the atmosphere was awesome. I mean, I really felt like
a sectional final. I mean,the fans were in at the student section
was great. Um. Darian Rodgers, I mean, there's nothing more that
we can really say about her.And then other than she was just as
advertised, fun to watch, extremelyfun to watch, talented shoot her.
(12:37):
She had twenty five points in thefirst half and she just got this,
she just got this signature step backthree and more times than not it'll go
in. Um. But that beingsaid, Geneva m definitely played him really
tough on. They made a hugeadjustment in the second half with a lot
more pressure and trapping her, andshe wasn't as effective certainly in the second
(12:58):
half. Cape Palmer had a massivegame, I think twenty three points.
Lindsay Blackmore was right behind her withtwenty two. But it was a really
solid team win for them. Um. You know, Kelly McCluin had a
couple of big rebounds and scores.Grace Hinchman had a cool euro step layout
late in the game, so areally talented and stolid win for them.
(13:20):
And then Darien also scored her twothousandth career varsity point and I think she's
in three seasons, which is ridiculous. Yeah, it really is, but
a good, a really good winfor Geneva. You kind of side no,
you kind of mentioned great centrotion tothe euro step. I noticed that
too when I saw him a coupleof weeks ago. She's kind of got
that little kind of euro step tightmove and then spins it up into the
(13:43):
lane, kind of moved down andit's a nice, nice, little,
nice little mover that that she kindof has developed. You also mentioned that
it was a sectional final atmosphere.Well, guess what it could be a
sectional final a couple of weeks.I mean, Geneva is the number one
seed at the Hoffman State Sectional.Lake Park is the fourth seat week.
Yeah, I take it back throughthe third seats. That's why they would
(14:05):
be in a sectional finals. Sothat very well could be a rematch there
in a couple of weeks at HoffmannEstate. So definitely something to keep an
eye on. Obviously, there's alot of games to be played before that
time. You also got to seea couple other girls names last week and
some good stories out of both ofthem. You got to see Saint Charles
North on their senior night on Thursdaynight, and then got to see Burlington
(14:28):
Center on Friday night, and uh, you know, good stuff come out
of both of those. Yeah,So Saint Charles johnth I mean, for
those who didn't read the story,you know, obviously it was their senior
night. Everybody knows Lonnie Shantsbury,Caroline Jokaidas, and Amma Nowara, but
there were two other young ladies,Emily Vesper and Deja Nagra, who I
have never really seen play before,and I learned that Deja in particular had
(14:50):
a really tough row to get backtwo twentycls one and each knee sophomore and
junior year and able to come backand get her first start there. For
for North on senior night, it'sa really cool thing. And everybody was
glowing about her and how positive shewas and everything. So that was really
neat to see. And then anotherone, um, you mentioned the Burlington
Central game on Friday. An interestinggame because at first, not only just
(15:16):
for the story that I wrote,but Alan of Wells took a little bit
of a tumble on a drive ina layout and she was down for several
moments and it didn't appear to lookgood. She was able to get up
under her own power, and sheultimately just got the wind knocked out of
her and she was fine. Shecame back. But that could have been
a very interesting development. Uh,it's happened. Um. But that being
(15:39):
said, they were able to handleHuntly just fine. They get seconds in
the Fox Feller Conference. I thinkthat was what their eleventh to win in
a row. Yeah, wins ina row to end the regular season.
Yeah. And then and then Iwrote a story I just on Alex Lichner
and how she was able to comeback from a torn ac all of her
own. Um, so just Iguess it was kind of like a week
(16:00):
end of injuries, so to speak, in the sense of just coming back
and being able to overcome them.So is Yeah, it was a pretty
fun weekend. Yeah, there's alot of good stuff, and it's funny.
You know, a lot of whenobservers that are not in within the
program. Uh, you know,everybody knows about the Galante chant, the
boards of the world and the catchmentsand a lot of wells, but It's
funny, you know when you whenyou tell stories about that and then people
(16:23):
then I see it on social media, and I tell you what you can
tell just kind of the the thelove and the appreciation that their teammates have
for these players that you wrote about, because you know, I just see,
like, for example, that ayoung lady on Thursday night and I
think Lonnie tweeted something about it.So, uh, there's a lot going
on that maybe people don't know aboutthat are not within the program, and
(16:45):
they really it means a lot whenwhen these kids are able to come back
the way they do and have theirmomentum, like like they were able to
Lasters and Fridays. So um,you know, a lot of good stuff
to end a regular season. Butyou know, before we go, I
think maybe we'll kind of chat alittle bit about the postseason. You're gonna
be girls basketball for the larger schoolstart this speak for the postseason. On
(17:10):
Tuesday night, Batavia will be playingthey host a regional. They'll be playing
Willowbrook. Geneva will play the winnerof a playing game, so kind of
we'll see what happens there. Obviously, there's a possibility of the third meeting
between Geneva and Batavia. But Pataviathat will be a challenging game for them
on Tuesday night. I've seen Willowbrookonce. They have a very good junior
(17:33):
post player, Stephanie Dosbach, whoseaverage is a double double Kolia Herron.
She is averaging like something crazy likefive or six steals a game for Willowbrook.
So that should be a game thatcould go either way. And then
I fully expect Geneva to come outof that Tuesday game and then playing the
Thursday, and then Saint Charles Northa very interesting regional. They're up in
(17:55):
Schaumberg. If they win their firstgame against Schanberg, then they would play
York on Thursday. York is areally talented team that said a great year.
They won the West Suburban Conference.UM, but I definitely give Saint
Charles North a a fighter's chance inthat regional. I would too. I
haven't seen New York play, soI don't want to get two ahead of
my skis. But as long asLonnie's healthy and she's been shooting lights out
(18:19):
the last number of weeks, she'sdefinitely going to be a huge part of
that. Um. You know,but they get so many any solid contributions
from everywhere. Listen, Hugh's offthe bench, um Jakhaidas brings an emotional
lift, Emma Nowara doesn't still doesn'tget enough credit for forcast maybe nowhere else.
I will continue to bang this drumpfor a while, but you know
(18:40):
it should be a great great weeksectional or sorry regional play Yeah, no
doubt about it. And uh Caanlinof course is going to be at the
insta regional. They have their thirdmatchup against Sandwich on Wednesday that those two
teams have split the first two games, and then the winner of that game.
Well, unfortunately all they get isMontini likely on night, so a
(19:00):
tough assignment there. Burlington Central uhlikely they will be flacing Glenbard South in
a regional final on Thursday. GlenbartSouth beat them last year and the playoffs
en route to getting second in thestate. But Glenbart's South is a little
bit different team this year because theydon't have Maggie Maggie Bear who's six or
three that's now a drake, Soum, that game can go either way.
(19:23):
UM, I guess sort of selfishlynothing against Glenbard South, kind of
hoping to see Burlington Central come outof that because I really want to see
Alana Wells and Catchment next week playat that sectional. Which, boy,
that sectional lines up is as reallyfun because you have Burlington Central, you
have Sycamore with Kylie Feerback, andthen of course you have Montini, so
(19:44):
that could be a really fun sexualnext week. Oh I love the sign
to that. No for sure,yeah yeah, so so yeah, so
a lot of great stuff going onthis week. We have, of course
the basketball playoffs going on. Wehave for girls basketball, we have boys
basketball kind of winding down as wehead into the postseason. Of course,
we have state wrestling. We havesectional swimming, we have STAPs and mastics.
(20:10):
Point I'm probably missing something, butI hope not. And before we
go, I wanted to kind ofgive our readers kind of a sneak preview,
kind of already promoted a little bitwhere you're going to be launching a
Kane County Preps news a letter thatwill be dropping next week. I will
also be doing one in Kendall Countyfor a paper down there. Basically,
(20:33):
what it amounts to is a lotmore content or nothing. So if you
want to read, you know,like a features or a Q and a
type stuff. Then if you voteon an athlete of the week, then
you can sign up for this newsletter or we'll be promoting on social media
later this week, and I planfor it to drop on Monday mornings in
your inbox. So, like Isaid, if you want to read more
(20:56):
content for free, that's where that'swhere you go. Well for today,
yeah, sure, well you andI will be hard at work on those
this week. I already have acouple of things mulling over in my head
ready to bounce off you as weget set. So a lot of great
stuff coming this week. Josh,anything else before we sign off here?
Nope, not at all. Enjoyyour Monday, everybody. Alrighty, thanks
(21:18):
so much for making us a partof your afternoon. We'll be back next
week breaking down some more basketball allaround our coverage areas. Thanks so much.
All right, Josh, we're recording. We're doing this remote this week all
everybody. Welcome into the King CountyPreaps Basketball Podcast. Jake Parson, Josh
Walgie here for another edition. Josh, how was your weekend good? You
know, we had a fair amountof basketball on Friday, a little bit
on Saturday, and then we hadquite a bit of quite a bit of
wrestling on Saturday. I know youwere at Cone following the goings on and
(00:27):
saw a number of qualifiers there andand I think you're gonna be following the
path to Champagne this weekend. Socertainly an exciting time of the year,
not only in basketball but in severalsports as we kind of head into the
postseason. In all of those,absolutely, and we saw a number of
high quality games on Friday. We'llstart with the guys here, Josh.
(00:48):
Um. I guess we had tostart with the big one St. Charles
St. Charles East, you know, getting the second game of that series,
Saint Charles East coming in with aten game win streak and Saint Charles
North able to pull it out ontheir home floor and stop that. I
know Jerry Fitzpatrick was there for us, but you know, when you just
read the story, you kind ofjust got the sense of how how competitive
(01:14):
it was, and you know,North got some key contributions, one from
Thomas Kellen, also Ethan Marlowe witha career high. So an exciting game
for North. Yeah, obviously abig game in that league. Those two
teams came in leading the conference.And he mentioned Saint Charles East had a
rather lengthy winning street coming in.North had beaten them earlier in the year,
(01:34):
and you know North has had youknow, a couple losses here and
there since Christmas. Obviously they're atPontiac, but they've played a really challenging
schedule and so kind of wondered howthis will work out because East did come
in red hot. But I thinkNorth kind of re established themselves that if
they haven't already as a team that'sdefinitely gonna be one to watch not only
(01:57):
for the next couple of weeks butinto the postseason, because they have the
guys that we know, that theguys that the the average fan knows,
like the Connor linky that's going toBradley uh Luke Sheffer's a really good point
guard. But then when those guyshave just kind of regular games. Then
they have guys like Ethan Marlow arereally talented sophomore, and Thomas Kellen and
and it just seems like every gamethere's a different guy that kind of steps
(02:21):
up for them. And you know, he wondered how that game was gonna
go. Where Saint Charles East likesto play that game where they have the
depth, and they kind of pressedgames and just kind of wear them out.
And it sounds like North kind ofmaybe maybe beat them at their own
game or just did it better,although they were down twelve early. But
um, certainly that's a really goodwin for Saint Charles North. But I
(02:44):
think both of those teams are goingto be heard from before it's all Senate
done this year. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, no, this one.
I really think that this is theyear for Satt Charles East in particular to
get over that regional hump. Youknow, it's been the last about three
years they lose in the regionals,not able to get that title of North.
Of course, last year UM goingon to the sectional semifinal, getting
(03:05):
their first regional in ten years.So I think there's plenty more basketball for
for those two teams. Um Joshthe other kind of big one. Obviously,
it was kind of that rivalry Friday. Uh, you know, Geneva
and Batavia. Um, Jaden Johnsonas a monster game, thirty plus points,
but Josh Preston and Geneva had somethingelse to say about it, and
uh able to pull that out.Yeah, just kind of reading the story,
(03:29):
it didn't sound like Josh Preston wasparticularly happy that Geneva lost to Petavia
earn a year understandably so losing onher home courts, Geneva's had an upper
hand that that rivalry, but hereally responded at eighteen points in that game,
and and just was kind of,um, you know the story in
that game, and Geneva comes outwith a six point win. Um,
you mentioned Jada Johnson, he hada really big weekend. I think he
(03:50):
had like thirty two against Plainfield Souththe next day. Um, obviously a
really good player. But but Genevacomes out on top of that, um,
you know, very game. Andand like you said, it was
certainly a rivalry weekend in the JukanConference because Wheat and South and Wheat and
North played as well, and thistime Wheat and North coming out on top
of Wheat and South so, um, you know a lot of big games
(04:14):
in that league. But Geneva getsa good win, Saint Charles North gets
a good win. So that that'skind of where that stood on Friday night.
UH, kind of tossing around theKent County area. Caitlin UH played
Plane on Friday and Caitlin actually ledthat game for most of the at least
they led late in the game.UM, despite losing Bryce Eber to an
(04:35):
injury a few minutes in. UM, they led in that game, but
then Plano kind of stole it late. UM. I think they had a
like a layoup and then there wasa free throw that was missed. But
then there's a couple of rebounds andthen Griffin Cross gets the rebound and makes
two free throws. So a toughloss for Canlan M on a road against
Plano. But but you've seen boththose teams and Plano as a talented team.
(04:57):
Oh yeah, you can't. Yeah, no, no denying that one.
And I think the first time Isaw them, h Camland was able
to actually to come back. Ithink there was a couple ten point deficits
in that one that they're able tocome back from. But you know,
just with the combined talent in thefront court height that that Plano has.
Um, you know, they wereable to, you know, kind of
just steal that away towards the end, and it kind of sounds like it
(05:18):
was similar here and get too.Yeah, definitely game that could have gone
either way and sounds like kind ofa wild game with I think there's maybe
some pedical foul that there's maybe atleast one parent as subjected in that game,
which you know we've seen in gamesthings get all heated sometimes, but
certainly kind of a wild game,you know. Before we transition over to
(05:39):
the girls side, I wanted totouch on some some teams and matchups that
are outside of the King County area. We mentioned that last Friday was sort
of the unofficial rivalry night and itextended to Oswego. Um. I was
at Oswego East to see Oswego andOswego East for their second match of this
year, and came in and thinking, Wow, this is gonna be a
really exciting game with team two goodteams and a really close game. And
(06:02):
boy was I wrong. Aswego Eastgot out to a sixteen to two start.
It was thirty one to eleven byhalftime, and it really never never
got the sense that it was goingto get to where it might be a
close game. Late I think Swegogot into maybe twelve or fourteen or something
like that, but Oswego East reallydominated and they're playing well. Sam Schultz,
(06:26):
you've seen him already. He missedthe first month or so with that
recovery from a torn meniscus, buthe had a big game. He had
twenty one points and eleven rebounds,and he also scored his one thousands career
point. So it was a reallygood night for him, and and so
congratulations to him. His older sister, Sidney Schultz, who's now in Missouri
State, she graduated as the alltime leading scorer for the girls program there,
(06:50):
so kind of exciting thing for him. And I kidded with him.
I said, hey, you knowyou're still behind your sister, right And
then he said, well, yeah, but she did in four years.
I did it in two and ahalf. It's it's kind of fun,
that sibling robbery. But he's afun kid and really talented player. But
but a Sweets they are going tobe a team I think to watch down
(07:10):
the stretch. I've mentioned it before. They've had a lot of injuries.
I feel like they've maybe had theirfull unit for maybe a couple of games
this year. They're still without akid coming off the bench for them,
but they do have their starters andtact and Sam Schultz is a really talented
player that's getting closer and closer toone hundred percent. He sure looked like
you one hundred percent on Friday.Will Wolf is a really talented player alongside
(07:33):
Grayson Gets. I really like himas a point guard, as a kid
that can facilitate and maybe knock downa few shots. Tremont Brewers a really
talented defenders. So a Sweets isa team to watch. And I think
in that sectional where there's a BowlingBrook and the enjoy At West and a
Wabonzi, three really good teams,I think Oswego East putting themselves maybe right
(07:54):
right next to them and maybe rightjust a touch behind those three teams.
A sweet Ease plays w Bonzi tomorrownight. Um On the other side,
Oswego they've had a great year there. I think they're seventeen and three at
one point. They've they've kind ofhit a tough tough stretch. They've lost
five of their last six games.Um, they lost in a I think
like a last second shot to WheatNorth on Saturday night. Um, but
(08:16):
they're just kind of in a ina tough stretch right now. They kind
of struggled at times defensively, theystruggled to score on Friday night. But
I do think that they'll get itturned around. They have a lot of
seniors, so um, they're gonnawant to finish their season strong. So
but but that's where I was onFriday night. And then another big game
on Friday night, h Bennett.Bennett Academy was playing Nile's Notre Dame,
(08:39):
who is the number one ranked teamin Class three A, and Bennett came
out with a really big win.They come away with I think it was
a two point win. Um,they got sixteen points from Tyler van Ekern
and then uh got a big stoplate in the game. So, um,
that was a very impressive win forBennett. A team that you've seen
and I've seen this year. Idon't know they when I see him in
(09:01):
layup line and during the game,you know, nothing really jumps out.
But they're always a team traditionally thatseems to play their best basketball late in
the year and they certainly are.Um. That so a really good win
for them. Yeah, and thenI know the two they played La Loumier.
I'm probably screwed up that name,but I'm really tallenged that out in
(09:24):
I believe Indiana. UM, Iactually have a mutual friend that works on
that staff there, and so thatwas kind of an exciting thing for them.
Yeah. Yeah, they played Lumieror whatever I pronounced. They played
them on Saturday night. Um theteam from Indiana that I'm gonna just not
say anymore. Uh, they havethe number one ranked kid in Indiana.
(09:45):
It's going to produe. I don'tknow they can't remember his name. But
Bennett didn't lose that game as closegame. I think they lost by five
or six, But obviously a reallychallenging weekend for Bennett and King County fans
just kind of circled us. Onthe calendar, I believe it's February twel
the eighth Saint Charles North Bennett.That's the game I got my eye on
in a couple of weeks. Thatshould be a very interesting game. Those
(10:07):
teams always seem to play each otherat the end of the year. It's
oh it's kind of a nice,little kind of Brometer game going into the
playoffs. So that's one to keepan eye on. And before we go
over to the girls side, Igot to see another really good team on
Saturday Night, Hinsale South from Darien. UM. They've had just a fantastic
year they had last year. They'retenant sixteen I believe, and they came
(10:28):
into Saturday Night twenty six and two. I mean that that's that's a that's
such a dramatic improvement. And it'snot like they added a bunch of new
guys. It's basically a bunch ofjuniors that are now seniors that they just
really worked in the game and gota lot better. UM they had won
fifteen in a row coming into thegame, they had already broken the school
(10:48):
record for wins. Unfortunately, theydidn't come out of the losing end,
but it was a tough game.They played pro vis the least did they
beat overtime earlier in the year.UM. They got down thirteen and the
four quarter, didn't shoot really well, got out rebounded. But then they
looked like a team that's twenty sixand two because they didn't go away late.
They came back and they actually tooka lead in the last two minutes
(11:09):
of the game, but they endedup losing by two. But Hinsdale South
definitely a team to watch in Classthree A as we head into the playoffs
in a couple of weeks, andthen joshual quickly before we jump over to
the girls, I would be remissnot to mention Brett Porto, Burlington sent
basketball coach, yep, becomes theprogram leader in wins coach, you know,
(11:31):
as he coached and um, that'sa really cool thing he was able
to accomplish on Saturday against McHenry.Porto of course grew up and played for
Burlington Central when he was in highschool and able to come back and obviously
coach and and and get that mark. Congratulations to him. Yeah, but
I have a feeling when its allsaid it done, he's gonna have that
record by quite a long market becausehe's not an old man by eddy stretch
(11:54):
though. He's done a great jobthere and have another good season there,
So I guess we'll kind of headover onto the girl's side. And Geneva
blocked up a share of the conferencechampionship in the Ducaye Conference last week,
they came away and they won atLake Park and kind of much anticipated rematch,
(12:15):
and you were there, tell meabout that a little bit. First
of all, the atmosphere was awesome. I mean, I really felt like
a sectional final. I mean,the fans were in at the student section
was great. Um. Darian Rodgers, I mean, there's nothing more that
we can really say about her.And then other than she was just as
advertised, fun to watch, extremelyfun to watch, talented shoot her.
(12:37):
She had twenty five points in thefirst half and she just got this,
she just got this signature step backthree and more times than not it'll go
in. Um. But that beingsaid, Geneva m definitely played him really
tough on. They made a hugeadjustment in the second half with a lot
more pressure and trapping her, andshe wasn't as effective certainly in the second
(12:58):
half. Cape Palmer had a massivegame, I think twenty three points.
Lindsay Blackmore was right behind her withtwenty two. But it was a really
solid team win for them. Um. You know, Kelly McCluin had a
couple of big rebounds and scores.Grace Hinchman had a cool euro step layout
late in the game, so areally talented and stolid win for them.
(13:20):
And then Darien also scored her twothousandth career varsity point and I think she's
in three seasons, which is ridiculous. Yeah, it really is, but
a good, a really good winfor Geneva. You kind of side no,
you kind of mentioned great centrotion tothe euro step. I noticed that
too when I saw him a coupleof weeks ago. She's kind of got
that little kind of euro step tightmove and then spins it up into the
(13:43):
lane, kind of moved down andit's a nice, nice, little,
nice little mover that that she kindof has developed. You also mentioned that
it was a sectional final atmosphere.Well, guess what it could be a
sectional final a couple of weeks.I mean, Geneva is the number one
seed at the Hoffman State Sectional.Lake Park is the fourth seat week.
Yeah, I take it back throughthe third seats. That's why they would
(14:05):
be in a sectional finals. Sothat very well could be a rematch there
in a couple of weeks at HoffmannEstate. So definitely something to keep an
eye on. Obviously, there's alot of games to be played before that
time. You also got to seea couple other girls names last week and
some good stories out of both ofthem. You got to see Saint Charles
North on their senior night on Thursdaynight, and then got to see Burlington
(14:28):
Center on Friday night, and uh, you know, good stuff come out
of both of those. Yeah,So Saint Charles johnth I mean, for
those who didn't read the story,you know, obviously it was their senior
night. Everybody knows Lonnie Shantsbury,Caroline Jokaidas, and Amma Nowara, but
there were two other young ladies,Emily Vesper and Deja Nagra, who I
have never really seen play before,and I learned that Deja in particular had
(14:50):
a really tough row to get backtwo twentycls one and each knee sophomore and
junior year and able to come backand get her first start there. For
for North on senior night, it'sa really cool thing. And everybody was
glowing about her and how positive shewas and everything. So that was really
neat to see. And then anotherone, um, you mentioned the Burlington
Central game on Friday. An interestinggame because at first, not only just
(15:16):
for the story that I wrote,but Alan of Wells took a little bit
of a tumble on a drive ina layout and she was down for several
moments and it didn't appear to lookgood. She was able to get up
under her own power, and sheultimately just got the wind knocked out of
her and she was fine. Shecame back. But that could have been
a very interesting development. Uh,it's happened. Um. But that being
(15:39):
said, they were able to handleHuntly just fine. They get seconds in
the Fox Feller Conference. I thinkthat was what their eleventh to win in
a row. Yeah, wins ina row to end the regular season.
Yeah. And then and then Iwrote a story I just on Alex Lichner
and how she was able to comeback from a torn ac all of her
own. Um, so just Iguess it was kind of like a week
(16:00):
end of injuries, so to speak, in the sense of just coming back
and being able to overcome them.So is Yeah, it was a pretty
fun weekend. Yeah, there's alot of good stuff, and it's funny.
You know, a lot of whenobservers that are not in within the
program. Uh, you know,everybody knows about the Galante chant, the
boards of the world and the catchmentsand a lot of wells, but It's
funny, you know when you whenyou tell stories about that and then people
(16:23):
then I see it on social media, and I tell you what you can
tell just kind of the the thelove and the appreciation that their teammates have
for these players that you wrote about, because you know, I just see,
like, for example, that ayoung lady on Thursday night and I
think Lonnie tweeted something about it.So, uh, there's a lot going
on that maybe people don't know aboutthat are not within the program, and
(16:45):
they really it means a lot whenwhen these kids are able to come back
the way they do and have theirmomentum, like like they were able to
Lasters and Fridays. So um,you know, a lot of good stuff
to end a regular season. Butyou know, before we go, I
think maybe we'll kind of chat alittle bit about the postseason. You're gonna
be girls basketball for the larger schoolstart this speak for the postseason. On
(17:10):
Tuesday night, Batavia will be playingthey host a regional. They'll be playing
Willowbrook. Geneva will play the winnerof a playing game, so kind of
we'll see what happens there. Obviously, there's a possibility of the third meeting
between Geneva and Batavia. But Pataviathat will be a challenging game for them
on Tuesday night. I've seen Willowbrookonce. They have a very good junior
(17:33):
post player, Stephanie Dosbach, whoseaverage is a double double Kolia Herron.
She is averaging like something crazy likefive or six steals a game for Willowbrook.
So that should be a game thatcould go either way. And then
I fully expect Geneva to come outof that Tuesday game and then playing the
Thursday, and then Saint Charles Northa very interesting regional. They're up in
(17:55):
Schaumberg. If they win their firstgame against Schanberg, then they would play
York on Thursday. York is areally talented team that said a great year.
They won the West Suburban Conference.UM, but I definitely give Saint
Charles North a a fighter's chance inthat regional. I would too. I
haven't seen New York play, soI don't want to get two ahead of
my skis. But as long asLonnie's healthy and she's been shooting lights out
(18:19):
the last number of weeks, she'sdefinitely going to be a huge part of
that. Um. You know,but they get so many any solid contributions
from everywhere. Listen, Hugh's offthe bench, um Jakhaidas brings an emotional
lift, Emma Nowara doesn't still doesn'tget enough credit for forcast maybe nowhere else.
I will continue to bang this drumpfor a while, but you know
(18:40):
it should be a great great weeksectional or sorry regional play Yeah, no
doubt about it. And uh Caanlinof course is going to be at the
insta regional. They have their thirdmatchup against Sandwich on Wednesday that those two
teams have split the first two games, and then the winner of that game.
Well, unfortunately all they get isMontini likely on night, so a
(19:00):
tough assignment there. Burlington Central uhlikely they will be flacing Glenbard South in
a regional final on Thursday. GlenbartSouth beat them last year and the playoffs
en route to getting second in thestate. But Glenbart's South is a little
bit different team this year because theydon't have Maggie Maggie Bear who's six or
three that's now a drake, Soum, that game can go either way.
(19:23):
UM, I guess sort of selfishlynothing against Glenbard South, kind of
hoping to see Burlington Central come outof that because I really want to see
Alana Wells and Catchment next week playat that sectional. Which, boy,
that sectional lines up is as reallyfun because you have Burlington Central, you
have Sycamore with Kylie Feerback, andthen of course you have Montini, so
(19:44):
that could be a really fun sexualnext week. Oh I love the sign
to that. No for sure,yeah yeah, so so yeah, so
a lot of great stuff going onthis week. We have, of course
the basketball playoffs going on. Wehave for girls basketball, we have boys
basketball kind of winding down as wehead into the postseason. Of course,
we have state wrestling. We havesectional swimming, we have STAPs and mastics.
(20:10):
Point I'm probably missing something, butI hope not. And before we
go, I wanted to kind ofgive our readers kind of a sneak preview,
kind of already promoted a little bitwhere you're going to be launching a
Kane County Preps news a letter thatwill be dropping next week. I will
also be doing one in Kendall Countyfor a paper down there. Basically,
(20:33):
what it amounts to is a lotmore content or nothing. So if you
want to read, you know,like a features or a Q and a
type stuff. Then if you voteon an athlete of the week, then
you can sign up for this newsletter or we'll be promoting on social media
later this week, and I planfor it to drop on Monday mornings in
your inbox. So, like Isaid, if you want to read more
(20:56):
content for free, that's where that'swhere you go. Well for today,
yeah, sure, well you andI will be hard at work on those
this week. I already have acouple of things mulling over in my head
ready to bounce off you as weget set. So a lot of great
stuff coming this week. Josh,anything else before we sign off here?
Nope, not at all. Enjoyyour Monday, everybody. Alrighty, thanks
(21:18):
so much for making us a partof your afternoon. We'll be back next
week breaking down some more basketball allaround our coverage areas. Thanks so much.
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