When Robeson and Gage Park get together, it’s almost always an exciting game.
Tuesday afternoon’s game at Robeson was no exception as James Roberson buried a three-pointer with four seconds left to give the Raiders a 64-63 victory over Gage Park in the Public League Red Central and a season sweep of the Owls.
“All I was thinking about was spreading my fingers and hitting my shot,” Roberson said. “I knew it had to be me. I had done it to them once and I figured I had to do it again.”
Roberson, who finished with 18 points and 11 assists, led Robeson (14-11, 4-3) back from an 11-point deficit with 11 points in the fourth quarter.
The senior point guard also had a hand in the Raiders’ 65-62 double-overtime victory over Gage Park on Jan. 9. In that game, Roberson had 25 points, including six in the second overtime, and made a three-pointer that tied the game at the end of the first overtime.
“The same guy killed us again,” Gage Park coach Sterling Spencer said. “He’s a good ballplayer that always steps up.”
Senior forward Amir Major scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half, including nine in the final quarter, as Robeson came back from a 49-38 deficit.
“[Major has] been playing well since he came off an ankle sprain early in the year,” Robeson coach Charles Redmond said. “He hit some big shots for us in the fourth quarter to keep us alive.”
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Pierre Alston scored 21 points to lead Gage Park (16-6, 4-3), while Lamar Grimes had 14 points.
West Aurora 60, West Chicago 41: Jamaal Thompson had 18 points and Derik Hollyfield and Jason Thomas each put in 14 points as the No. 3 Blackhawks (17-2, 8-1) won in the DuPage Valley. Andy Hein’s eight points, nine rebounds and six blocks led West Chicago (6-13, 1-8), which scored the first eight points of the second half to pull within 35-26.
“We’re capable of playing a lot better,” West Aurora coach Gordie Kirkman said. “But you have to give West Chicago some credit. They impressed us with their intensity.”
Shepard 87, Rich East 77: Jon Cleveland scored 27 points and Lorenzo Yelder added 17 points as the No. 5 Astros (17-2) won the SICA crossover. Shepard went on a 16-6 run to end the third quarter and take a 66-55 lead.
“This is probably the only time all year I’ve really had a motivational halftime speech about picking things up effort-wise,” said Shepard coach Tony Chiucarello, whose team plays No. 1 Thornwood on Friday. “I was very disappointed with our job on defense, and in rebounding the first half.”
Gamar Diamond had 22 points to lead Rich East (4-17).
Argo 71, Rich South 66: Donnie Reynolds scored 17 points and hauled in 10 rebounds for the Argonauts (8-11) in the SICA crossover. Eric Epps had 21 points for Rich South (13-6).
Downers Grove South 56, Hinsdale South 48: Scott Dunda scored 17 points for Downers South (10-8, 4-4) in the West Suburban Gold.
Glenbard East 69, Wheaton Warrenville South 47: Jason Fisher’s 28 points and five three-pointers carried the Rams in the DuPage Valley.
Hubbard 77, Harper 66: Rashaun Johnson had 26 points and nine assists and the Greyhounds (11-12, 4-3) went on an 11-0 fourth-quarter run to win in the Public Red Central. Justin Macon added 17 points and 14 rebounds for Hubbard.
Huntley 80, Winnebago 45: Jay Kalsow’s 20 points lifted the Redskins (18-2, 6-0) in the Big Northern White.
King 53, DuSable 50: Joseph Toney scored 16 points and David Easterling added 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Jaguars (6-13, 3-4) won in the Public Red Central. Benyamin Robinson had 12 points for DuSable (7-11, 3-4).
Lane Tech 70, Steinmetz 58: Curtis Collins tallied 25 points and eight rebounds and Shawn Hopkins added 21 points and 11 assists for the Indians (11-10, 3-4) in the Public Red North.
Lemont 55, Kaneland 47: Jason Reiter’s 31 points carried Lemont (10-8) in the non-conference contest.
Maine South 54, Highland Park 36: The Hawks (14-6) cruised behind Jeremy Arbuthnot’s 14 points.
Mather 80, Sullivan 70: Daniel Mendoza scored 24 points to lead Mather (13-7, 5-2) to the Public Red North win.
Mundelein 53, Lake Forest 48: Steve Plucinski and Graham Beatty each scored 13 points as the Mustangs (16-5, 4-4) edged Lake Forest in the North Suburban Lake. Marlow Hicks added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the winners.
“[We] knew that in a way we were in a must-win situation to make a statement before the seeding meeting,” Mundelein coach Perry Wilhelm said.
Lake Forest (13-8, 5-3) was led by Michael Liddy’s 16 points.
Naperville Central 63, Glenbard North 51: Michael Wilson’s 26 points led Naperville in the DuPage Valley.
Riverside-Brookfield 75, Elmwood Park 50: Peter Harris scored 22 points and Shatone Powers added 20 points as the Bulldogs (9-10, 7-4) coasted in the Suburban Prairie White.
St. Laurence 73, Oak Lawn 60: Adam Lotus scored 21 points as the Vikings (10-10) won the non-conference game.
St. Rita 64, Eisenhower 47: Andre Senegal scored 21 points to lead the Mustangs (8-10) past Eisenhower.
Sandburg 62, Bradley-Bourbonnais 54: Cory Cummens scored 22 points and Ray Vicario added 11 points for the Eagles (13-8). Wade Greenlee’s 18 points led Bradley.
Stevenson 48, Antioch 43: Rueben Trotter scored 12 points and Bobby Stineman and Greg Zimny each had 11 points to lead the Patriots (12-8, 3-5) in the North Suburban Lake.
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Thornton 61, Richards 54: Vince Mattison scored 20 points as Thornton downed Richards in the SICA crossover.
Tilden 58, Hope 52: Keith Gayden scored 18 points to lead Tilden (12-7, 6-1) to the Public Blue Central win. Marcus Morgan added 15 points and Chris Retic 10 points for the Blue Devils.
Von Steuben 82, Prosser 64: Luke Rogers scored 21 points and Phillip Watson had 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Panthers (14-3, 7-0) cruised in the Public Red North.
Zion Benton 74, Round Lake 46: Julian Lott poured in 16 points as the Zee-Bees (20-2, 8-0) in the North Suburban Prairie.