In all the hoopla over St. Joseph’s Division I trio of 6-foot-3-inch senior Jonathan Peoples and juniors Evan Turner (6-6) and Demetri McCamey (6-3), opponents tend to overlook 6-4 senior Demetrius Young.
“I get overshadowed a lot by `the big three,’ so I try to do whatever the team needs–rebound, play defense, block shots,” said Young, averaging 10 points and eight rebounds.
“But I’ve also been able to flourish because of them. All three of them share the ball real well. If I’m open, they’re going to find me.”
“Demetrius is playing beyond expectations,” Chargers coach Gene Pingatore said. “He’s always guarding someone bigger than him, does all the dirty work. He has also been our most consistent guy underneath.”
Milestone ahead
Pingatore has coached for 36 years and has no thoughts of slowing down. He has 758 career victories and could eclipse the all-time boys basketball leader, retired Dick Van Scyoc of Peoria Manual (826) by the end of the 2007-08 season. “That would be something if it came about,” Pingatore said.
Bob Sakamoto
Hurting
Sterling Newman’s Jocelyn Mellen, a 6-3 senior headed to Marquette, suffered a knee injury Monday and will miss Saturday’s game at No. 14 Johnsburg.
“I don’t know the severity of it yet,” Sterling Newman coach Brad Schwarz said. “I don’t think I’m going to risk it (her playing Saturday). Even if she’s cleared, I’d rather give her a couple of weeks off heading into the postseason.”
As a junior, Mellen was a second-team Tribune All-Stater in leading Newman to fourth place in Class A. She has been on crutches this week and was to have an MRI Thursday.
She averages 19 points and 13 rebounds and has surpassed the 1,500-point mark for her career. “She’s had a great year,” said Schwarz, whose team was 22-3 through Wednesday.
Alan Sutton
State-of-the-art wrestling
The recent out-of-state success of Chicago-area teams demonstrates why Illinois is one of the nation’s top high school wrestling states. Top-ranked Sandburg, led by 140-pounder Matt Cusick, defended its title at The Clash in Minnesota. Mario Morgan at 125 helped Mt. Carmel take the Midwest Classic in Ohio.
Heavyweight John Schoen earned weight-class honors for Marist in its Chase Metcalf Challenge victory in Michigan. Glenbard North, which was third at The Clash, and undefeated 103-pounder Tony Ramos defeated perennial Wisconsin state champ Wisconsin Rapids on its home mat. And Montini added to the display of strength with runner-up honors at the Cheesehead meet in Wisconsin and an eighth-place finish at the Ironman meet in Ohio.
Dave Surico
On the ice
The road to the United Center starts with defending state hockey champion New Trier Green, which received the No. 1 seed in the 37-team state tournament field.
The championship game is March 25.
“We’re all pretty glad with the seeding, but we know it will be a tough road,” said Green senior forward Mike McBride, third on the team in scoring (25 goals, 32 assists).
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The Trevians (41-3-3) are coming off a 2-0 victory over Loyola Gold. Their scoring leader is junior left wing Kyle Brown (27 goals, 41 assists).
Neuqua Valley is the No. 2 seed, followed by Naperville Central, Loyola Gold and Fenwick.
More Green
New Trier Green coach Bob Melton was named the new head coach for Team Illinois in the 23rd annual Chicago Showcase (April 19-23), a tournament that attracts teams and players from across the U.S., along with college coaches and junior-team scouts.
Melton played for Glenbrook North’s back-to-back state champions in 1984 and 1985 and then played at Illinois-Chicago. He has led New Trier to six state championships in eight years.
“We need a high-caliber coach, and Bobby is that,” said Mike Mullally, chairman of the AHAI High School Committee. “I think Bobby is one of the best coaches in the state.”
Ross Forman