The month of January is one the Stevenson boys basketball program won’t soon forget.
Two trips to the east coast saw the Patriots play three games against national competition. On Friday night, Stevenson (18-1, 7-0 NSC Lake) was back in its comfort zone. And for the 16th time in a row, top-ranked Stevenson defeated a divisional opponent, dispatching Libertyville 77-50.
“It’s a tough conference. Coach [Pat] Ambrose always stresses taking every game seriously,” said senior guard Connor Cashaw, who finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
It’s been over a calendar year since the last time Stevenson lost to a divisional opponent (Jan. 10 of 2014 to Zion-Benton). From early on Friday night, it was clear the streak would continue.
A common offensive strategy from Stevenson opponents is to slow the game down and grind out possessions. In theory, that limits the Patriots’ offensive opportunities. The problem is, opponents rarely are able to execute such methodical tactics because the Patriots won’t let them.
Six first-quarter turnovers by the Wildcats were a direct result of Stevenson’s full-court pressure and half-court zone traps. Senior guard Jalen Brunson had 18 points, and his steal at half court led to a dunk — his second of the first quarter — that gave the Patriots a 22-13 lead.
“[Libertyville] delayed a little at the start, passing it around. They present some problems with height, but we adjusted,” Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose said. “We got going on the run, got some fast breaks and got a lead.”
That lead swelled to 39-17 after Stevenson senior guard Matt Johnson converted a four-point play with 2:23 left in the half. In an 83-42 win over Round Lake on Tuesday, Ambrose played his bench as much as he has all season. And while the game Friday was never truly in doubt after a 10-0 second-quarter run that culminated with Johnson’s four-point play, there were more minutes played by the Patriots bench in competitive sequences than against Round Lake.
Junior guard Ryuji Aoki led the Patriots with 19 points against Round Lake. On Friday night, he was on the floor with Brunson and Johnson in the second quarter. In the same quarter, Ambrose also played a bigger lineup of senior Ryan Rosenbaum (6-foot-4), Cashaw (6-3) and senior forward Parker Nichols (6-5) with Johnson and junior guard Jordan Newman.
“It’s a good experience to be in the game. [Ambrose] wants me to handle the ball and play good defense,” Aoki said. “If there are problems in the future with injuries, I can step up and get confidence from [my teammates].”
After a stretch of four games in nine days, Stevenson gets a break in the calendar. No games until a home date with Lake Zurich Feb. 3. It’s the second of six straight divisional games for the Patriots, who are pleased with the normalcy the February schedule promises.
“It’s very important. Tuesday and Fridays are playoff game [dates] and we have to get used to that,” Brunson said. “We’re just trying to get in the flow of things and be consistent.”
Libertyville (10-8, 3-4) was led by senior center Joe Borcia’s 13 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Jabari Quigley also finished with 13 points.
Jon Kerr is a freelance reporter.
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