Malik Osborne was in a zone.
Crete-Monee couldn’t quite figure out its way around one.
The Warriors’ hot streak came to a screeching halt as Osborne’s shooting and Rich South’s zone defense were the key factors in the Stars’ emphatic 62-35 upset of Crete-Monee in a Southland matchup Friday in Richton Park.
Osborne, a 6-foot-5 senior transfer from Marian Catholic, scored a game-high 16 points, Trenton Sudduth had eight points and 11 rebounds, and the Stars held emerging junior Dwayne Rose to seven points. Rich South (9-7, 3-2) snapped Crete-Monee’s six-game winning streak and handed the Warriors (13-5, 4-1) their first conference loss.
“We started off slow during the year, figuring out how we’re going to play with a lot of young guys,” Rich South coach Scot Ritter said. “We’re just going to get better I think. I hope we will be able to learn how to deal with this win, hope we don’t get satisfied and not continue to take steps forward.”
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Jeremiah Matthews (12 points) kept Crete-Monee close for a while, his 3-pointer to open the second half cutting Rich South’s lead to 23-22.
The Stars proceeded to score the next 19 points as Crete-Monee struggled with the different formations Rich South’s zone was taking.
“Going around the school a lot of people were talking about how good Crete was,” Osborne said. “And I know they’re a good team, but that kind of fueled me because a lot of people said we weren’t up to the challenge. I wanted to put it to the test.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Malik Osborne, Rich South, 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 3-pointers.
Key performers: Crete-Monee — Jeremiah Matthews, 12 points. Rich South — Trenton Sudduth, 8 points, 11 rebounds.