Deerfield vs HP "Crosstown Classic" Turns Into Instant Classic

The 1^st Annual Crosstown Classic featuring games between the Deerfield Young Warrior feeder teams and the Highland Park basketball feeder teams took place on Valentines Day at Deerfield High School.

The kick-off game between the 7^th grade teams certainly deserved the term “classic." The Young Warriors jumped off to a fairly good lead in the first quarter and maintained the lead until half time. However, Highland Park not only employed a very efficient press through most of the second half but enjoyed excellent shooting and took the lead by 3 points at the end of the 3^rd period and led by as many as 9 points in the 4^th quarter.

With less than 45 seconds left in the game, HP’s 5 point lead was cut to 3 when Noah Jacobson made an uncontested lay-up. Then with less than 10 seconds remaining, a HP turnover gave the ball back to Deerfield. Sam Kanter moved the ball quickly up the court and found Charlie Robin near the sidelines with only 5 seconds on the clock. Despite being at least 3 feet behind the 3-point line, Robin hit the middle of the net to tie the game and send it into overtime.

In the overtime, despite the continued great HP effort, especially by Isaiah Diaz who finished with a game high 30 points, two more long 3 pointers by Robin was just enough to seal a high scoring 62-60 Deerfield victory. Robin finished with five 3’s and 25 points (6 assists), Jacobson with 28 points (9 rebounds), Tyler Kustusch added 6 points (3 blocks) and Owen Carl drained a 3 pointer in the fourth quarter to cut into the lead.

Paris Paramore, the Young Warrior Coach commented after the game “great big crowd atmosphere, both teams made runs and our guys didn’t panic… you have to earn your right to win the game with effort and togetherness."

John Lyons, the long-time director of the Deerfield feeder program stated that “this game ranks up there with the very best I have ever seen in feeder basketball and I’m talking about the performance of both teams as well as the thrilling finish."

Highland Park was victorious in the 8^th grade game. However, after suffering a deficit of 15 points in the first quarter, Deerfield basically played HP even for the remaining game losing by 11 points owing to a great extent to better defense. Stats are not available on this game unfortunately.

In a pre-game foul shooting contest among the nine Young Warrior 5^th through 8^th grade feeder teams, Hunter Glasgow of the 6^th White team had a perfect 10 for 10 made shots to top the other team’s representative shooters. For that performance, Hunter won gift certificates to Josh’s Hot Dogs in Northbrook for himself and for all his team mates. The 5^th grade White team representative, Ryan Chen, came in second with 9 out of 10.

David Gichner provided the colorful announcing for the evening while Doug Barr of Bach to Rock Music School provided music not only for the evening but for our wonderful 2^nd grade Young Warrior cheerleaders. A donated iPad was raffled off and was won by a young boy from Highland Park. The night brought in over $500 in ticket sales which will be donated to the Deerfield food pantry.