Boys Basketball: Lake Zurich gives North Chicago a tough battle
By Bryan Bonato Contributor February 7, 2012 12:38AM
Lake Zurich's Jeff O'Brien (right) shoots one over North Chicago's Kevante Curry. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 7, 2012 11:51AM
Seven charging fouls and two technical fouls helped keep it close, but North Chicago managed to survive on Monday night, beating host Lake Zurich 60-49 in a nonconference game.
The Warhawks (17-3) won on a night when senior star Aaron Simpson (game-high 22 points) picked up three charging fouls in the first 11 minutes, and always-active coach Gerald Coleman had to sit on his chair after getting T’d up in the second quarter.
Filling the Warhawk hole in the second half was senior forward Marzhon Bryant, who had all 16 of his points after the break.
“Coach got my ear a little bit (at halftime). That energized me,” said Bryant. “When he tells us we’re not helping the team, it’s our job to prove him wrong.
“When the ball is not going in, I just have to keep my head and play the game the way I know how to play it.”
Simpson actually scored 12 points in the second quarter after getting his third charging foul as North Chicago led 27-23 at intermission.
“When they didn’t take him out, we told the kids he’d come down and start shooting threes. He came down and hit two threes in a row. That’s just a great player,” said Lake Zurich coach Billy Pitcher. “That step-back three was like the shot Kemba Walker hit last year for UConn (to win the Big East Conference tourney).”
Lake Zurich (14-11) got 13 points from Mirko Grcic, and 11 from Doug Murphy, who drew five charging fouls.
North Chicago’s Coleman was OK with the way the game unfolded.
“I’m proud of my guys. They did a nice job playing at a slower pace,” he said. “Lake Zurich did a very good job of taking our fastbreak away from us.
Rising sophomore star Kurt Hall added seven points and nine rebounds for the winners. JaVairius Amos-Mays had four points and eight boards.
As a team, North Chicago was 19-of-59 shooting and Lake Zurich was 20-of-40.
The discrepancy in shots was the result of turnovers and 18 offensive rebounds by the winners.
North Chicago finishes North Suburban Prairie play with games at Wauconda on Friday and at home against Round Lake on Saturday.
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