Argo’s 70-69 SICA North triumph over visiting Richards Friday night, which clinched the Argonauts’ first conference title since 1988, should help make up for the respect they have sometimes lacked this season.
Argo, recently seeded seventh in its own sectional complex, improved to 20-2 overall and 8-0 in the league with the victory.
Whitney White’s basket with 23.9 seconds left in regulation put Argo on top. Richards’ attempt to win failed with 6 seconds left when Joe Dominik missed a jumper and couldn’t convert his own rebound.
“We would have been happy to win by half a point,” Argo coach John Gianotti said. “A lot of teams would have folded after Richards made a run. (We) work extremely hard, and everybody contributed to the win.”
White, who averages 15 points, had 24 this night. His performance was crucial, because Brucal Green (15.8-point average) was unexpectedly scratched from the lineup. Marcus Mister scored 15 points and Kyle Hill totaled 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Argo.
Desmond Altman led Richards (12-10, 6-2) with 18 points, David Bridgewater scored 14 and Demetrius McDaniel, plagued by foul trouble, had 13.
New Trier 71, Maine East 54: Freshman Matt Lottich had 12 points for the Trevians (15-6, 8-0 Central Suburban South). Chris Campos also had 12 for Maine East (8-13, 1-5).
Marshall 53, Farragut 52: Lynn Stevenson’s buzzer-beater lifted the Commandos (12-10, 4-6) over Farragut (12-10, 4-5) in the Public Red West. Byron Benton topped Marshall with 15 points and Stevenson added 14. Michael Wright had 16 for Farragut.
Lincoln Park 58, Crane 56 (OT): Claude Lambert’s 15-footer with 5 seconds left in overtime clinched the victory for the Public Blue West leaders (17-5, 9-0), who were led by Rasmond Winston (14 points, 10 rebounds), David Jones (12 points, 10 assists) and Randy Holcomb (11 points, 15 rebounds). Lambert finished with eight points while Dion Jackson’s five three-pointers and 25 points carried Crane (15-8, 7-1).
York 58, Glenbard West 50: Tim Stratton scored 11 points for York, which outscored Glenbard West 22-8 in the second quarter, in the West Suburban Silver. Emory Lucas had 13 points for Glenbard West.
Naperville North 65, Glenbard North 57: Naperville North (15-6, 8-2), outscoring Glenbard North 37-15 in the second half, got 14 points from Matt Gruber and 13 from Justin McCarey in the DuPage Valley. John Rukel finished with 24 points for Glenbard North (9-13, 3-6).
Riverside-Brookfield 55, Evergreen Park 40: R-B (15-5, 9-0) won the Suburban Prairie Blue title outright behind Andre Wilson (19 points) and Tom Rocco (11). Evergreen Park is 2-20, 1-8.
Proviso East 67, Morton 52: Reggie Davis (25 points, nine steals) scored 20 second-half points and Proviso East (15-5, 8-0) finished with a 14-0 run to stay perfect in the West Suburban Gold. The game was tied at 31 at halftime.
North Shore Country Day 71, Roycemore 63: Rashad White (25 points, 15 rebounds) paced North Shore (5-15) in the non-conference matchup.
Austin 67, Flower 61: In the Blue West, Austin (3-21, 2-7) prevailed with Joe Thomas’ 21 points.
Near North 67, Spalding 54: Near North (7-9, 7-3) was victorious in the Blue West as Phillip Taylor and Kennedy Shanklin scored 13 apiece.
Hinckley Big-Rock 44, Indian Creek 35: Chris Bailey (14 points) led Hinckley-Big Rock (18-5, 6-2) in the Little 10.
Benet 77, Joliet Catholic 62: Benet (13-9, 5-5) used 23 points from Adam VanSomeren and 14 apiece from Brian Eshoo and Britt Videbeck in the East Suburban Catholic.
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St. Benedict 87, Northridge Prep 39: Johan Khalilian (19 points) paced St. Benedict (14-8, 5-4) in the Chicago Prep.
Lemont 57, Ridgewood 41: Lemont (14-9, 7-2) trailed 30-16 at halftime but outscored Ridgewood 41-11 in the second half to claim the Suburban Prairie Blue victory. The Injuns were led by Jason Taylor’s 17 points. Rafael Lizak scored 10 for Ridgewood (14-10, 5-4).
Loyola 77, Bishop McNamara 66: Peter Lee carried Loyola (5-13, 3-8) to the Catholic League victory with a career-high 34 points, including 26 in the second half. Bishop McNamara fell to 8-13, 4-9.
Nazareth 64, Walther Lutheran 47: Travon Davis sparked Nazareth (14-8, 10-3) with 21 points in the Private School League.
St. Viator 78, Holy Cross 57: Colin Hayes and Mike Howland each had 18 points to fuel St. Viator (19-4, 9-2) in the East Suburban Catholic. Holy Cross (5-15, 1-10) was led by Joe Dempsey (15 points) and Greg Gogola (14).
Leyden 61, Willowbrook 39: Brian Rose’s 20 points helped Leyden roll in the West Suburban Gold. Dale Hicks led Willowbrook (6-15, 0-9) with 16.
St. Edward 82, Immaculate Conception 61: Tom Wright and Brian Johnson each scored 16 for St. Edward (15-8, 6-3) in the Suburban Catholic. Immaculate Conception fell to 8-14, 2-7.
Gordon Tech 83, St. Martin de Porres 42: Ramone Williams (17 points) helped Gordon Tech (13-7, 9-3) claim the Catholic League victory.
Aurora Christian 79, Aurora Central Catholic 60: Aurora Christian (15-7) rolled behind Mark Allen’s 17 points.
Lisle 63, Coal City 53: Lisle (23-0, 13-0) clinched the Interstate Eight title behind Damien Glover’s 29 points and Chris Sally’s 14. Lisle trailed 34-26 at the half but used a 23-4 run in the second half to take control. Travis Lynn’s 17 led Coal City (11-10, 7-5).
Kaneland 68, Geneva 65: Eric Delaney scored 21 points to lead the Knights (12-11, 3-3) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Naperville Central 63, West Chicago 46: B.J. Ford scored 16 points and Tim Szatko added 12 as the Redhawks (15-7, 7-2) pounded West Chicago (10-12, 2-8) 38-15 on the boards in their DuPage Valley victory.
Waubonsie Valley 58, St. Charles 52: The Warriors (14-7, 7-6) pulled out the Upstate Eight victory with George Poulakidas’ 25 points. Tyler Evans had 20 for St. Charles (12-8, 6-6).
De La Salle 52, St. Laurence 46: De La Salle (12-9, 7-5) rolled in the Catholic League as Mike Considine and Henry Grant each scored 11 points.
Maine South 51, Highland Park 50: Brian Angarone’s 13 points led the Hawks (12-10, 4-4) in the Central Suburban North.
Hales Franciscan 85, Tabernacle Christian 48: Patrick Moore scored 23 points as Hales (15-9, 8-1) clinched the Chicago Prep East.
Glenbrook North 60, Niles North 46: The Spartans (17-6, 6-2) won in the Central Suburban North with Jordan Kardos’ 19 points.
Proviso West 61, Oak Park 44: Proviso West (15-6, 7-3) opened with a 11-2 run and cruised to the West Suburban Silver victory at Oak Park (15-6, 4-4). Jerry Johnson led Proviso with 19 points and Keenan Hoytt added 17, including seven straight points in that first-quarter surge.
Illiana Christian 62, Timothy Christian 59: The Vikings (12-10, 6-8) avoided the Private School League upset as Seth Postma scored 18 points. Timothy (5-18, 2-12) missed a three-pointer at the buzzer after rallying from a 20-point third-quarter deficit.
Westmont 81, Elmwood Park 61: Ronnie Flowers scored 14 points and Ryan Wilson added 11 to lead Westmont (12-11, 5-4) in the Suburban Prairie Blue. Louis Carfagnini led Elmwood Park with 15.
St. Francis 67, Montini 64 (OT): Nick Zagotta (15 points) scored the game-winning three-pointer for St. Francis (11-12, 5-4) in the Suburban Catholic. Bobby Riggs led the victors with 23 points. Andy Kocher had 17 for Montini (4-19, 1-8).
Mooseheart 51, Westminster Christian 48: Phil Munoz scored 13 points and David Townsend and Shawn Reynolds added 12 apiece for Mooseheart (7-14, 4-4) in the Tollway Conference.
Evanston 58, Niles West 42: The Wildkits (10-10, 4-3) outscored Niles West 19-9 in the final quarter to secure the Cenrtal Suburban South victory. Courtney Huff and Ndueso Udoiwod each had 17 points for Evanston.
Glenbard South 60, Oswego 45: Mike Smith (16 points) and Brad VanDenend (13) helped Glenbard South (10-10, 4-4) post the Suburban Prairie Red victory.
Glenbard East 72, Wheaton North 58: In the DuPage Valley, Kevin Fitzgerald scored 22 points to lead the Rams (13-7, 5-4).