Kits Regroup To Take 3rd After Semifinal Defeat

After losing to the undefeated host team in the afternoon semifinals of the 80th Centralia Holiday Tournament Saturday, Evanston’s basketball team didn’t have much time to regroup.

But the Wildkits showed their resolve a couple of hours later and crushed Mount Vernon 61-42 to capture third place at the tournament. They’ll take an overall record of 12-5 into the New Year.

The Kits --- and the ETHS coaching staff --- were certainly disappointed to fall short of the championship game after placing 2nd in both 2022 and 2021. But winning 3 of 4 games in a 3-day span, combined with the travel involved to deep in Southern Illinois, is an accomplishment no matter what trophy you actually bring home.

Just ask Evanston head coach Mike Ellis.

“To me that was the highlight, the way we responded in our second game of the day,” said Ellis. “I know they were disappointed that they weren’t able to rise to the occasion against a good team (eventual tournament champion Centralia). They could have come back and just played it to play it. But they looked motivated and they were focused out there on the court.

“They’re definitely capable of beating good teams like Centralia. We’re still learning how to do that. Centralia reminds us --- and some of the people down there, too --- a lot of the two teams we took to the Final Four. This is the best team they’ve had since they were 2nd in the State (in 2011) and they’re certainly one of the best teams we’ve played all year. I could see them at State (in Class 3A) at the end of this year.”

Led by first-team all-tournament selection junior Theo Rocca, the Kits bounced back with a statement win over Mount Vernon. Rocca (17 points) and senior Antoine Thomas, who matched his career high with 19 points, provided the offensive juice to help the winners shoot 57 percent from the field.

That effort came just a few hours after Centralia (16-0) limited the visitors to 6-of-20 shooting in the second half of a 61-36 triumph.

It also underlined the inconsistency that Evanston’s players --- many of whom are getting their first real tests against varsity competition --- have shown, especially on offense. Every starter has scored in double figures, with the exception of guard Jonny Dickson, a defensive standout --- and often will muster just a couple of points in the next game.

Ellis sees the glass as half full, after predicting at the start of the season that different players would step up in different games, and also noted that head-to-head matchups have a lot to do with his team’s offensive success.

“We have a lot of players who are still improving and growing their games,” the coach pointed out. “And the strategies of other coaches are to not let certain players beat them. When other teams scout us, a guy like Antoine Thomas or Theo Rocca is someone they’re going to key on. We’re hoping they all improve enough so that others will step up when someone gets taken out (clamped down on defensively).

“We’re not where we should be as a team because I look at the opportunities we could have seized (to beat ranked foes) and didn’t. I’m really anxious now to get back in the (practice) gym and see how much they can improve in the month of January, because this is an important month for us.”

Evanston resumes Central Suburban League South division play at home next Friday versus Glenbrook South, and will host Schaumburg in a non-conference test on Saturday afternoon.

At Centralia, the Kits saved their best for last in that rout of the Rams in the 3rd place contest. Evanston erupted for 19 points in the first quarter and pushed the lead to 34-20 by halftime. Six different players fired in 3-point baskets in a collective 10-of-23 performance from long range and Thomas was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, including a couple of 3-pointers.

In one of their best displays of team play this year, the Kits were credited with assists on 21 of their 23 field goals, including 5 apiece by Ian Peters and Brandon Watson.

Matched against Centralia in the semifinals, the Wildkits only trailed 29-22 at halftime. But they endured a 5-minute scoring drought to start the second half and when Rocca finally connected on a 3-point shot, the Orphans had built a 20-point advantage.

“They’ve got good guards who share the basketball, they play hard and they play together. That’s why they remind me of our Final Four teams,” said Ellis. “They play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. With their discipline on defense, we didn’t get any open looks in the second half.”

Evanston was paced in that game by Rocca with 8 points and Tyler Dennis, who notched all 7 of his points in the fourth quarter when the clock was running.

The Wildkits ran away from a Florida team, Miami Ferguson, in a 76-58 shootout in the first round and then used a stout defensive effort to advance past Alton in the second round with a 43-31 triumph.

The Kits placed four starters --- Rocca with 16, Thomas with 15, Watson with 16 and Vito Rocca with 10 --- in double figures in the opener and poured in 44 points in the second half. Jordan Gonzalez fired in 26 to take game scoring honors for Ferguson.

Alton actually led ETHS 22-21 at halftime but generated just 9 total points in the entire second half. Rocca’s game-high 15 points included perfect 8-for-8 marksmanship at the free throw line.

Ellis pointed to an unsung hero, Dickson, whose defense on the opposing team’s top scoring threat made a difference in all 3 Wildkit victories.

“The Miami kid (Gonzalez) did get his average, but Jonny held the other guys under their averages,” praised the coach. “He’s not what I would call our stopper yet. But we always say to the kids that if you can be a valuable defender for us, that’s the quickest path to the starting lineup. It’s critical to have a guy like that, who can keep the other team from running away with a game.

“I don’t think we gave up one transition basket in the second half against Alton, and that’s a team that tries to get you to play out of control. Our turnovers were down in that game, and that helped our defense, because you’re always better when you take care of the ball.”