Morgan Park produces more quality point guards than just about anybody.
Four of them are currently playing major college basketball, and the Mustangs’ current floor general could be the top prospect in Illinois regardless of class.
The Chicago point guard market, however, clearly has not been cornered.
Xavier Castaneda glided his way through defending champion Morgan Park’s defense time and again on Friday night, posting 15 points, five assists and three steals to lead No. 9 Young to an 80-71 upset of the No. 3 Mustangs in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament final in Hillside.
Tournament MVP Lucas Williamson had 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting, and Craig Beaudion added 16 points while holding Morgan Park star Ayo Dosunmu to eight. The Dolphins, who are without two injured starters, claimed their first Proviso title since 2009 and fifth overall.
“He is supposed to do that,” Williamson said of Castaneda. “That is what we expect of him as a point guard. He has to control our offense and set the tone on defense. And that is what we’re expecting.
“I didn’t come here to lose this one. We know what we’ve got. I’m going to be on what we have every game.”
Rather than try to slow down Morgan Park (10-2), Young (9-3) accepted the Mustangs’ breakneck pace and beat them at their own game in large part because Castaneda, a junior, controlled long stretches of play.
He repeatedly created easy baskets for himself and others as the Dolphins shot 53.4 percent, with the Williamson-Castaneda-Beaudion trio a combined 23-for-35.
Dosunmu, meanwhile, finished with eight points and eight assists after averaging more than 25 points in the Mustangs’ three tournament victories.
“That’s all Craig,” Williamson said. “I got to give it to him.”
“Our guys did a phenomenal job executing the game plan,” Young coach Tyrone Slaughter said. “That is their ballclub. As Ayo goes, they go. We showed tonight our point guard is pretty good too.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
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Player of the game: Lucas Williamson, Young, 27 points, 10-14 FGs, 5-5 FTs, 9 rebounds.
Key performers: Young — Xavier Castaneda, 15 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals; Craig Beaudion, 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals. Morgan Park — Melo Burrell, 12 points, 11 rebounds.