Wildkits Step Up In Big Moments In 4th Quarter

Evanston’s young basketball team isn’t taking baby steps any more.

The Wildkits grew out of that mode Saturday afternoon with their biggest win of the season to date.

Just hours after almost letting a big lead slip away late against Deerfield, the Kits showed poise and patience in the fourth quarter of a 64-55 victory over the international cast from LaLumiere of Laporte, Ind. in their home opener.

Led by senior Antoine Thomas, who was deadly at the free throw stripe and connected on 11-of-15 attempts, Evanston refused to crumble against a skilled Lakers’ team that features players from Taiwan, Russia, France and Spain and serves as a feeder squad for another school team that plays a national schedule.

Thomas matched his career high with 19 points, backed up by Brandon Watson’s 17 and Theo Rocca’s 12. Evanston improved to 5-1 on the season, aided greatly by a team chemistry that no longer is confined to a test tube.

And it didn’t hurt that the Lakers missed 12 free throws in the contest to keep any comeback hopes at bay. Jackson Harper was the only player from the Indiana team to reach double figures, netting 21 points, including six 3-point baskets.

“They’re a talented team and they have weapons all over the place. But we had a lot of guys who stepped up in the big moments,” said Evanston head coach Mike Ellis. “We didn’t falter when they put the pressure on us in the fourth quarter. We did a good job of handling their press when they put it back on, or it might have been a different story.

“I really feel like we’re trending in the right direction as a team. We’re getting better with each game, and that’s just what you want to see.”

Thomas delivered 7 points in the fourth quarter, 6 of them coming after the Lakers had whittled the deficit to only 53-52 on a jumper in the lane by Chuck Wang midway through the period. Thomas has developed into a quiet assassin for a player who couldn’t get on the floor last season and wasn’t a big scorer on the lower levels, either.

He netted 19 points earlier this year in a loss to Rolling Meadows and has the kind of slashing and slippery athleticism that Wildkit fans haven’t seen much of until now.

His quickness and tenacity on the boards seemed to surprise the Lakers and they never really found a way to stop him. The visitors also didn’t have a guard capable of matching Watson’s quickness in the backcourt.

“The effort and the intensity that Antoine plays with are what stands out to me. I’m hoping the others can learn from the intensity he plays with,” said Ellis. “He makes a lot of plays for us. He’ll go get an offensive rebound, he’ll set a screen and then find a way to get open after he screens. His ballhandling is good, his decision making is good, he’s bringing everything to the table.

“He has the ability to stabilize us as a team when he’s out there. He had zero turnovers and yet he still has the ability to create out there. It’s almost like he’s revitalized his game this year.”

If Thomas should want a career as a basketball coach, he could certainly offer the Lakers some tips on free throw shooting. The losers shot just 6-of-18 in that department, compared to 9-of-22 (or 41 percent) from 3-point range.

At one point, the 6-foot-3 senior converted 9-of-10 attempts. He did miss a couple with 30 seconds left in the game, but the Kits already had a comfortable 8-point lead at that late stage.

Tied at 23-all after an exchange of 3-point baskets by Morgan Brown and LaLumiere’s Preston Malpass, the hosts grabbed the lead behind a scoring spurt from Watson. The elusive senior guard swished a shot from the free throw line, then on the next two possessions penetrated the lane for short jumpers that helped Evanston build the lead to 31-27 at the halftime break.

Evanston increased the lead to 50-43 to begin the fourth quarter, and Watson delivered another big shot after a pair of Thomas free throws. His floater in the pushed the lead to 57-52 with 3:02 remaining.

The Wildkits shot 48 percent (22-of-46) from the field. Vito Rocca paced the winners with 8 rebounds and Brown contributed 9 points off the bench.