Stevenson’s boys basketball team found itself in a rare position Tuesday night — playing a game after a loss.
On Saturday night, Stevenson dropped a 66-55 game to Simeon. Four nights later, it hosted Vernon Hills in the North Suburban Conference title game. In the first quarter, the Patriots looked like a team still reeling from the loss. Playing with a maniacal intensity, Vernon Hills seized control and led after eight minutes.
But Stevenson forced five second-quarter turnovers and snatched momentum back from Vernon Hills. A 10-point halftime lead grew to 18 points after three quarters, and the Patriots won going away, 60-39. With the victory, they earned their third consecutive conference title.
“We can persevere. We didn’t play our best in the first half against a good team and still win by [21],” Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose said.
Vernon Hills entered the game with the most wins (25) in school history and having concluded an undefeated Prairie Division season (12-0). In the first quarter, the Cougars played as well as anyone in the state of Illinois has against the Patriots. Vernon Hills’ half-court trap stifled the Patriots’ offensive motion. Senior center Lem Turner blocked two shots and scored six points, and the Cougars’ lively student section had much to cheer about.
But amidst the jubilation, there was a troubling sign — Vernon Hills senior guard Robby Nardini, a 22-point-per-game scorer entering the night — rolled his left ankle after a missed three-point attempt in the game’s opening minute. While he played the rest of the quarter and game, he never got on track. Nardini missed all five of his three-point attempts in the first half, and for the game, shot 0-for-12, with 11 misses coming from three-point range.
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“It had no effect on me,” Nardini said of the ankle. “When you are in the game, you don’t really think about it. There’s no excuse.”
Nardini had the unenviable task for guarding senior guard Jalen Brunson. Aggressive early, Brunson took 15 of his 19 shot attempts (he finished with 20 points, six assists and five steals) in the first half. Then, in the third quarter, Brunson made a key backcourt steal and layup on the other end, the final touches on a 12-2 run that gave the Patriots a 42-25 lead with 2:30 left in the third.
This is Stevenson’s final game until its postseason opener March 3. Brunson said that while it was vital the Patriots finished off the Cougars with a forceful assuredness, he knows they must find another level in the playoffs.
“First, we came off a loss. Second, we came out flat tonight. We can’t take anything for granted,” Brunson said. “I know we can play 10 times better and we won by [21].”
Senior guard Connor Cashaw had 13 points and seven rebounds for Stevenson.
Vernon Hills was led by senior guard Matt Weaver, who finished with 16 points. For the game, Vernon Hills shot 17-for-54.
“We had some rattle in and out which was frustrating as I thought we had good looks,” Cougars coach Matt McCarty said. “These guys are really dialed in. They’ve been dialed in for the majority of the season. When the state tournament comes, I think we will be ready to play.”
The Cougars open up the playoffs with a regional semifinal game March 4. Vernon Hills is the No. 1 seed in its sectional.
Jon Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.