Notre Dame honored its most famous basketball alum–former NBA player and 1981 graduate Jim Les–by defeating Holy Cross 52-47 to clinch its first East Suburban Catholic Conference championship.
The conference title is the school’s first in boys basketball since 1971, when Notre Dame won the Suburban Catholic Conference.
“[It] was a fitting tribute for Jim Les,” Notre Dame coach Dennis Zelasko said.
Led by John Bowler’s 21-point, 11-rebound effort, Notre Dame (20-2, 12-0) won its 11th straight. The Dons have won 18 of their last 19 games.
“He’s a tough matchup, and there’s no one in the league that can handle him one-on-one,” Zelasko said of Bowler.
The loss was Holy Cross’s second conference setback in as many nights and dropped the Crusaders (20-5) to 8-4 in the East Suburban Catholic.
Leading 26-24 to start the third, Holy Cross mounted a 7-0 run late in the third quarter to grab its biggest lead at 38-35.
A three-pointer by Jawond Gage (10 points) with 5:26 left in the game put the Crusaders ahead 41-39, a lead that would be short-lived given Notre Dame’s ensuing 11-0 run.
With the Dons streaking toward their first ESCC title, Holy Cross was unable to mount a late challenge. Holy Cross missed nine of its first 10 shots to start the decisive final period.
Will Schober added 12 points for Notre Dame while Holy Cross’ Ricky Mojek tied Jack Walsh for team-high honors with 13.
Jonathan Schoenberg.
New Trier 58, Peoria Central 50: Nick Nikitas scored 16 points and made four three-pointers for the No. 6 Trevians (18-4). Ted Rosinski added 15 for New Trier, while Daniel Ruffin led Peoria Central (14-8) with 21 points.
Young 81, Marshall 74: Marcus White had 30 points as the No. 9 Dolphins (19-6, 5-5) held off a Marshall rally in the Public Red West win. The Commandos (8-16, 2-9), led by Andre Goodwin’s 25 points, came back from a 12-point halftime deficit to tie the game at the start of the fourth quarter, only to have Young pull away.
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Waubonsie Valley 60, DeKalb 41: Derrick Clanton had 14 points and Jeff Sassano added 13 points as the No. 18 Warriors (20-1, 10-1) jumped out to a 13-0 lead and never looked back in the Upstate Eight win.
Bloom 92, Rich Central 70: Antonio Cool scored 28 points and Joe Chapman added 15 points as the Trojans (15-9) rolled.
Deerfield 57, Antioch 47: Mark Morrison scored 17 points for the Warriors (15-7).
Evanston 60, Palatine 42: Jonathan Blakley scored 16 points and Stacey Moragne added 12 points and three blocks to lead the Wildkits (16-6)..
Fenwick 67, Driscoll 60: Ashtyn Bell scored 16 points as the Friars (18-4) rallied for the non-conference victory. Fenwick trailed 49-43 late in the third quarter before going on a 12-1 run to take the lead. After Driscoll pulled even at 56-56, Fenwick went on an 11-2 run to ice the game. Sophomore Greg Turner had 21 points for Driscoll (19-5).
Hinsdale Central 41, Glenbard West 37: Steve Schweer scored 12 points for the Red Devils (15-7, 7-2) in the West Suburban Silver.
Holy Trinity 65, Francis Parker 37: Damien Bracy had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Lonale Rowry added 13 points and six assists for Holy Trinity (18-6).
Libertyville 97, Hersey 82: Austin Yarc scored 19 points and Ben Engstrom added 16 as the Wildcats (19-4) rolled.
Neuqua Valley 65, Elgin 59: Keelan Amelianovich had 24 points and nine rebounds and John Maples contributed 15 points as the Wildcats (21-2, 11-0) held on in the Upstate Eight. Neuqua Valley was 16-of-20 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
Oswego tournament: Josh Panozzo scored 22 points as Downers Grove South (13-7) defeated Naperville North 66-52. . . . Dan Tucker’s 17 points led Coal City (17-7) past Aurora Central Catholic 56-49.
Providence-St. Mel 89, Waukegan 67: Stanley Gaines scored a school-record 48 points as the Knights (10-11) rolled.
St. Charles East 71, Geneva 47: Chris Jones scored 20 points as the Saints rolled in the Upstate Eight, giving coach Jerry Krieg his 400th career victory.
St. Joseph 48, Carmel 43: Terrence Smith had 18 points to lead the Chargers (13-7, 9-3) in the East Suburban Catholic.
St. Patrick 47, Benet 40: Mike Sakosky scored 14 points and Matt Marino 13 for the Shamrocks (15-7, 8-4). Chris Murphy’s 18 points led Benet.
St. Rita 55, Homewood Christian 53: Rashay Russell’s three-point basket with 1.9 seconds left gave the Mustangs (13-10) the non-conference victory. Russell, who also had the game-winning basket against Leo Friday, finished with 18 points.
Rick Cornett’s 21 points and Jimmy Miles’ 17 points led Homewood Christian.
Walther Lutheran 66, Montini 63: Lawrence Robinson had 15 points and six rebounds for the Broncos (14-9).
Zion-Benton 74, Westosha (Wis.) Central 52: Andre White scored 31 points and shot 8-of-12 from three-point range to lead the Zee-Bees (20-5).
Girls
Benet 65, Batavia 27: Jenny Callan scored 13 points to lead the No. 14 Redwings (20-8).
Nazareth 68, Simeon 41: Allison Zdarsky and Sarah McNicholas had 13 points apiece for No. 20 Nazareth in the Roadrunners’ (20-7) non-conference win.