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player ready...The sequence put a big smile on the face of Metea Valley coach Matt Walpole.
Six baskets into their game Friday night at Naperville North, six players had scored for the Mustangs.
“Our goal isn’t to get one guy going,” Walpole said. “It’s actually to play five as one. So we don’t care who gets shots, who gets points. That’s not our concern. So I love the fact that six different guys got our first six baskets.
“That means we’re sharing the basketball. It’s moving and we’re getting good looks.”
Senior guard Holden Rank has been taking advantage of that for Metea (9-10, 4-6).
Rank’s winning shot on Jan. 6 in a DuPage Valley game against Waubonsie Valley seemed to light his fire. He put his shot on full display Jan. 19 against Glenbard North by scoring a career-high 32 points with eight 3-pointers.
Through 18 games, he’s averaging 7.1 points. He has converted 29 3-pointers.
“I feel like lately I’ve been shooting the ball very well, too, and it’s all the contributions from the other teammates,” he said. “They find a way to get me open and set screens. Do all the things they need to so I can make those shots.
“I think that’s been one of my strengths lately.”
Johnson’s return unclear: Senior forward Chris Johnson’s first two games out of the lineup proved to be a mixed bag for Naperville North.
The Huskies (16-2, 8-1) lost Jan. 20 at Wheaton Warrenville South before rebounding Friday to beat Metea.
Through 16 games, Johnson averaged 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds. In his last game on Jan. 19, Johnson had 15 points and five rebounds against Waubonsie.
Naperville North coach Jeff Powers isn’t sure when the 6-foot-7, 235-pound Johnson might be back.
“He hasn’t made it through a full day of school yet,” Powers said Friday. “So if you’re asking me, I’d probably think we won’t see him next week in the three games.”
Junior guard/forward Tom Welch confirmed things will need to change with his running mate sidelined.
“At practice, I try to do the most I can without (Johnson),” Welch said. “Start being that new leader — if that’s passing, if that’s just creating opportunities, being really aggressive.
“Defensively, he was a great body inside, great at rebounding. So I’ve taken his ways and have been able to wall up a little bit better and rebound out of my zone.”
Welch is averaging a team-best 13.6 points, while his 5.9 rebounding average ranks second.
Skeete shooting: Waubonsie Valley coach Jason Mead hasn’t been afraid to challenge sophomore Marcus Skeete at times. He knows there’s more in Skeete’s tank.
“(Skeete) has his moments where he’s really good,” Mead said.
Beginning Jan. 19 against Naperville North, Skeete has scored in double figures in three straight games. After scoring 10 points against the Huskies, he had 15 for the Warriors (10-13, 4-6) in a loss to Wheaton North.
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A 20-point effort on Jan. 24 in a 53-34 win at Lake Park allowed the 6-4 guard/forward to show some consistency.
“He’s learning what it means to be a varsity basketball player where every possession really matters,” Mead said. “You have to remember the (scouting report). You have to remember what to do, and he’s kind of learning how to go along with that.
“But in order for us to win, he has to play well. He’s getting better.”
Blake Baumgartner is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.