By: Brian Weitz
For the first time since playing Oak Park/River Forest almost two weeks ago, Evanston (7-1) (2-0) found an opponent that they were not able to put away within the opening minutes of the game. Eventually, the Kits proved to be to much, putting together their seventh straight win by a score of 73-62. The Glenbrook South Titans were able to match the CSL powerhouse Evanston Wildkits basket for basket throughout the first half and into the third quarter. The Titans were powered by two early three pointers by junior G Ryan Hopkins.
Five Wildkits reached double figures. Steven Rudnicki had 20 points; the most any Wildkit has scored in one game on the season, and was helped by 12 points from both Zach Morton and Sean Crogeart-Key, a season high for Crogeart-Key, 11 points from Travis Clark, and 10 off the bench from Ryan Frazier-Chambers. Rudnicki and Morton both had six assists as well.
“We controlled the second half, which I expected, and we got better. If we continue to get better, I really think we could be something special down the line,” said
Rudnicki, who has gotten better and better as the season has gone on, attributes the second half surge to increased intensity. “We just pulled up the intensity. We know we can score on people we just had to pick up the intensity,” said Rudnicki.
The Titan’s 6-8 junior center Jack Cooley had game highs with 24 points and 9 rebounds. He was not able to control the game enough, however, as 14 of his points came at the free throw line. Cooley has scholarship offers from NIU, SIU, Loyola, Miami (OH) and others.
Locke believes they let the Titans remain in the game because they were unable to play long in their zone. “We were not long enough and allowed them to float the ball into our zone.” Long enough is a reference to both the ground covered by the three at the top of their 3-2 zone and the pressure they put on the ball handler.
Since falling to Zion-Benton in their first game,
Although the Titans played well,