The gym is tiny.
It holds fewer than 200 people, and the court itself is nowhere near regulation size.
Both parties agree that it’s almost impossible for long, athletic teams like Morgan Park and Simeon to stage a clean, well-played game there, and on Thursday night they most certainly did not.
It was fitting, then, that it was decided by a call that even the beneficiary admitted was questionable. Evan Gilyard and the rest of the Wolverines weren’t about to offer any apologies, though.
After dribbling into a trap near midcourt with 4.3 seconds left, Gilyard was sent to the line and made two free throws to give No. 3 Simeon a 59-57 victory over the No. 2 Mustangs on Wednesday at Morgan Park.
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Gilyard scored eight of his 15 points and went 6-for-7 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to help the Wolverines win on Morgan Park’s court for the second straight season.
The Red South rivalry game had been played at a neutral site until last season, when Morgan Park’s parents threatened to have their sons boycott the game unless it was played at the school.
“The (fans’) feet are on the court,” said Gilyard, who scored 24 points in Simeon’s 60-57 victory at Morgan Park last season. “Come on now. They can trip us while we are going down the court.
“We didn’t argue. We just came here to play basketball. They wanted to have it here, and we are 2-0.”
Both games could have gone either way, and this one would have if a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Ayo Dosunmu (game-high 21 points) had fallen.
Romelo Burrell also played well for Morgan Park (5-1, 3-1). His 3-pointer with 1 minute, 16 seconds left tied the score at 57, then Simeon (5-0, 4-0) bled the clock before Gilyard was sent to the line.
“To end the game like that with 4.3 seconds left, that’s unacceptable,” Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said. “It was a great game, a great environment and you make a call like that. That is unacceptable. CPS as a whole needs to get better with officiating.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Evan Gilyard, Simeon, 15 points, 8-9 FTs, 6 rebounds.
Key performers: Simeon — Talen Horton-Tucker, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks; Morgan Park — Ayo Dosunmu, 21 points; Romelo Burrell, 16 points, 7 rebounds.