Wauconda and Vernon Hills rise in the rankings.
Top 10
With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.
1. Warren 27-2 (1): Joel Paasch scores all 17 of his points, including five 3-pointers, in the first quarter of the North Suburban Conference champion’s win over Libertyville.
2. Waukegan 21-7 (2): Trey’Veon Roberts contributes 24 points and eight rebounds in the Bulldogs’ NSC win over Mundelein.
3. Wauconda 23-7 (5): Austin Carlsen and Tony Salemi combine for 33 points as the Bulldogs top Grayslake Central to win the Northern Lake County Conference title.
4. Stevenson 19-9 (4): Donny Williams averages 24.5 points in the Patriots’ two NSC wins, scoring 30 points against Libertyville.
5. Deerfield 17-11 (3): Freshman Drew Schnurman makes his varsity debut after leading the Warriors’ sophomore team in scoring.
6. Grayslake Central 20-9 (6): Carson Woods and Alex Granville combine for 33 points in the Rams’ loss to Wauconda.
7. Vernon Hills 20-9 (10): Matt McCarty records his 300th win in his 23rd season as the Cougars’ coach.
8. Lakes 16-11 (8): Dorian Pullen begins the final week of the regular season with 178 assists, a single-season record for the Eagles.
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9. Grant 13-11 (9): Darnell “DJ” Stitts’ buzzer-beating basket lifts the Bulldogs over Grayslake Central as he finishes with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
10. Libertyville 14-12 (7): The Wildcats, who have lost four straight, can right the ship against Mundelein.
Player of the Week
Wauconda senior guard Alex Ortega scores 28 points twice, first in a 69-61 Northern Lake County Conference win over Round Lake on Feb. 10 and then in a 66-43 nonconference win over Highland Park on Saturday.
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.