Chicago police and security personnel quickly restored order Wednesday at a Collins boys basketball game after about a dozen Farragut fans came onto the court during the game.
Eight Chicago police officers and six Chicago Public Schools security officers were on duty a day after public schools chief executive officer Arne Duncan announced police would be at selected basketball games after a two-year absence due to financial concerns.
With Farragut ahead 60-26 and 1 minute 47 seconds left in the third quarter, a scuffle broke out between a player on each team, resulting in a double technical. After the Farragut fans came onto the floor, police and school security quieted the situation and the game resumed within five minutes.
The No. 13 Admirals (7-3, 4-0) then finished off an 82-41 Red West victory behind Jonathan Logan’s 16 points and five rebounds. The gym was cleared by security before the teams were allowed to leave the benches.
“It’s going to take a police presence right now,” Collins coach Matthew Muhammad said. “We really have to screen the crowd to make sure it’s high school students and family members of the players. Usually it’s not the students causing the problems. Stepping onto the court just gives them a chance to be noticed.”
Simeon 72, Julian 57
Simeon forward DaShawn Walker wasn’t himself in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game at Julian, and coach Bob Hambric knew it.
“DaShawn didn’t let himself get set in the first quarter, so I sat him down to collect himself,” Hambric said.
Walker collected himself soon enough, then went on to collect 28 points, six rebounds and four blocks as No. 8 Simeon jumped to an overwhelming early lead and defeated Julian 72-57 to take sole possession of first place in the Public Red South.
Walker, a 6-foot-6-inch senior, scored only two points in the first quarter, yet Simeon (10-3, 4-0) led 16-4 thanks to Julian’s 1-of-15 shooting through the first eight minutes. Julian (10-8, 3-1) shot only 7-of-31 in the first half and trailed 33-18 at halftime.
Sean Duncan.
Young 79, Prosser 66: Anthony Harris scored 25 points and seven three-pointers in his first game back from a strained right knee for No. 3 Young (12-1, 3-1) in the Public Red-Northwest. DeWitt Scott added 20 points.
Crane 97, Austin 52: Carl Marshall scored 18 points and Lorenzo Thompson added 17 points as the No. 4 Cougars (12-1, 3-1) coasted in the Public Red West. Thompson had eight points in Crane’s 19-4 game-opening run.
Westinghouse 73, Lincoln Park 61: Jamarcus Ellis and Shawn Smith scored 18 points apiece as the Warriors (8-5, 3-1) upset No. 12 Lincoln Park. Westinghouse went on an 11-3 run to break a 40-40 tie. Royce Parran’s 21 points for Lincoln Park (11-4, 3-1).
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Girls basketball
Evanston 46, Barrington 45: Akiya Alexander scored 12 points for the Wildkits (11-8). Rebecca Berg scored 19 points for Barrington (10-10) but missed a 10-footer for the win at the buzzer.
Sweet Sixteen tournament: Jenny Keresztes scored 14 points as Sandburg (12-7) defeated Hinsdale South 41-37. Sandburg led 40-22 with 4:22 left, but Hinsdale South (12-7) scored 15 straight points, capped by Aubrey Rauktys’ three-point play, to pull within three with 9.1 seconds left. Erika Nelson scored the final point on a free throw with eight seconds left.