Kits Add To Highlight Tape, Outscore Vikings 80-64

Something just had to give in a basketball matchup between the two division leaders in the Central Suburban League Tuesday at Beardsley Gymnasium.

An Evanston program that places an emphasis on team basketball and defensive stops faced a challenge from a Niles North squad where the focus is on beating you 1-on-1, and sensational athletic plays are more valued than fundamentals.

The Wildkits flipped the script on the Vikings, pulling off three plays that will no doubt show up on the 2025-26 season highlight tape and helped Evanston outscore the visitors 80-64.

A rare 4-point play by sophomore guard Ben Ojala and second half dunks by Tate Schroeder and Timi Ogunsanya at key junctures boosted the Kits to the CSL crossover victory and a 14-3 overall mark. Niles North fell to 13-5 despite a game-high 27 points from junior Collin Tobin.

Evanston featured what might be a school record 30 assists on 33 made field goals and continues to share the ball at a pace that produces an average of about 70 points per game to date. That’s the highest single game assist total for the program since Mike Ellis took over as head coach.

Tuesday, the hosts shot 58 percent from the field , including a 12-for-22 effort from 3-point range. Schroeder scored a career-best 24 points and Vito Rocca (16 points, 7 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals), Ojala (16 points) and Ogunsanya (10 points, 6 assists) all filled up the stat sheet at North’s expense.

But it was those three aforementioned highlight tape performances that gave ETHS the breathing room it needed to pull away from the Vikings.

Evanston was nursing a slight 35-31 lead entering the final minute of play in the first half when Ojala fired in a shot from beyond the 3-point stripe on the right wing, was fouled, and converted the free throw.

Enzo D’Andrea threw in a 3-pointer at the buzzer in response for the Vikings, but Evanston still led 39-34 at the halftime break.

In the third quarter, Ogunsanya threw down a fast-break dunk after a steal by Ojala that was part of a 12-5 Evanston run in the last three minutes as the hosts opened up a 59-49 advantage.

Evanston saved the best for last in the final period. Dion Lane Jr. dove on the floor for a loose ball, and while rolling on his back flipped a long pass to Schroeder for a slam and a 66-51 lead.

“Those plays really got us going,” said Schroeder, noting a quote from a Michigan State coach regarding one of his players that “his dunks ought to count for more than two points.”

“Those were really big plays for us. They kinda lit the fire for us. Ben’s 4-pointer came after we were in a little bit of a drought and that flipped the tide going into halftime. But the last two games have definitely been our best when it comes to sharing the ball. When you’re getting everyone involved (scoring) and talking out there, it picks up your energy and makes it so much easier to execute plays.”

Ellis doesn’t mind the flashy plays on offense --- as long as he sees defense to match it.

“I just don’t want us to operate with the mindset that seeing the ball go through the hoop is what ignites us,” said the veteran head coach. “What happens at the other end is really what should get us going. I understand giving up 64 points because Niles North is a talented team. They can score at the rim, and they can score 3s, so they really put a lot of stress on your defense.

“We still need to be more consistent on defense. That’s the piece we’re looking for.”

Evanston only shot three free throws on the night --- making two --- to underscore just how defenseless the Vikings could be. But five turnovers in the second quarter kept things close on the scoreboard until Ojala provided a spark to close out the half.

“Ben’s really been playing well lately and it was nice to see him step up like that,” Ellis praised. “A lot of his (made) shots come when they’re needed most for us, in a one or two-possession game or when we need one to stop another team’s run.

“The turnovers had us frustrated at halftime. We didn’t need to go 100 miles an hour out there because Niles North was going to give us the shots (we wanted). We had a lot of good looks at the basket tonight.”

Evanston resumes CSL South division play Friday, hosting Deerfield, and will play in a shootout against Oswego East Saturday at 5 p.m. at Homewood-Flossmoor.