Wildkits Must Hope Third Time's The Charm

Mike Ellis told his team during a fourth quarter timeout Friday night that the first team to 40 points would win.

Ellis was right.

But Evanston never got there.

The Wildkits saw a fourth quarter comeback attempt fall short as Glenbrook South earned a 48-39 victory in the Central Suburban League South division finale for both teams. The Titans swept the regular season series after beating the Kits 48-45 at Beardsley Gym, limiting ETHS to just three points in the fourth quarter of that matchup.

Evanston couldn’t find a finishing touch again after trailing by double digits for most of the game Friday. The Wildkits slipped to 19-10 on the season, 5-5 in league play, while GBS improved to 22-6 overall and 7-3 in the CSL South.

The two teams are on a collision course for a third showdown in just a couple of weeks. The Illinois High School Association released postseason pairings earlier in the day Friday, and Evanston --- the No. 6 sectional seed overall --- is assigned to the Class 4A Regional at GBS along with No. 3 Glenbrook South, No. 10 Maine South and No. 14 Highland Park.

The first round regional games are set for Wednesday, February 21st and the Wildkits and Titans would meet in the championship game on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in a possible rematch.

Evanston’s offensive struggles wiped out a strong defensive effort, particularly in the second half when the visitors allowed just six field goals. Twice they were able to climb within four points in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t connect from 3-point range to get over the hump.

For the game, the Kits shot 33 percent (15-of-45) from the field) and just 3-of-15 from 3-point range.

That’s an offense that seems to be stuck in neutral. Brandon Watson (16 points) and Theo Rocca (13) each enjoyed a good half of offense and ETHS got virtually no offense from the other six players who saw action.

Glenbrook South was paced by 6-foot-7 Nick Taylor with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Nate Kasher and Anestis Hadjistamoulous added 11 points apiece.

“The way for us to beat GBS is the same as against any team. We just got done telling them it was Evanston versus Evanston tonight, that’s why we lost,” said Ellis. “Our offense was our worst defense because we had opportunities and we just gave them the ball back. They were able to extend the lead because of our carelessness.

“I just hope we’re in a situation (in two weeks) where we’re game-planning against them again. We have to come out with more of a sense of urgency than we did tonight. Tonight, we didn’t worry enough about doing the little things. Getting down early (14-4 after the first quarter) against a skilled team like that is what did us in. It’s hard to fight back from a steep deficit like that.”

In fact, the Wildkits have come from behind in most of their victories this season and seemed poised for another unlikely comeback after the Titans held a 35-28 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

South’s Taylor, who did almost nothing (two points) in the first half, broke loose for eight points in the third period to give the hosts what appeared to be a comfortable lead. Much of that damage came after Watson’s 12-footer in the lane drew the Kits to within 29-25.

“We had a sequence there where we had two good shooters miss 3s, and they (GBS) made us pay with three putbacks in a row (offensive rebounds),” Ellis pointed out. “That was a nine or a 10-point swing. We had two shots that would normally go down.

“On offense, we need to make quicker reads and figure out what to do next, especially when there’s a mismatch. The ball was sticking too much tonight. You have to recognize where to go with the ball after the initial action. And our indecisiveness is more around the rim than anywhere else. How many layups did we miss? We have to convert or get fouled in those situations, and we’re not doing that.”

Evanston chipped away at the lead, finally taking shots they’d passed up earlier in the contest. Watson’s 15-foot jumper pulled ETHS to within 40-35 at the 2 minute, 7 second mark, and, after a pair of free throws by South’s Dan DeVine, buckets by Morgan Brown and Watson inched Evanston closer at 43-39 with 49 seconds on the clock.

That was the last time the visitors scored.

Evanston plays its regular season finale on Tuesday at Maine West. As the No. 6 seed for the Class 4A Maine South Sectional, the Wildkits are part of a deep field where all of the top teams have taken turns beating each other. Loyola Academy, Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South, New Trier and Niles North claimed the top five seeds ahead of ETHS.

“It doesn’t matter what number (seed) is in front of your school’s name when you get to the playoffs,” Ellis said. “I never worry about seeds or who matches up against who, because when you do that you never get off the porch (advance). It’s one game at a time.”