Notes, observations and other thoughts about men's basketball played at 38th and Central...

In a Region IV semifinal matchup of two evenly matched men's basketball teams, Rock Valley flipped the script on Morton College with an 86-74 victory March 2nd in Rockford.

The Golden Eagles were 5 of 25 from three when Morton College pulled off a 59-47 home win February 1st. In the rematch a month later, Rock Valley made 10 first-half three-pointers and were 14 of 30 overall.

Both teams entered the contest riding seven-game win streaks and both left with records of 21-11. 

For Morton College, it was the Panthers' longest win streak since 2019. That's when Morton College reeled off nine straight wins to claim its last Region IV title.

For the past month, Morton College had been in a "win-or-else" mode. The Panthers needed to win their last five Skyway games to share a conference championship with Waubonsee. With the advent of the playoffs, Morton College still was in that win or go home mindset.

While Morton College didn't give up any large runs, Rock Valley used a pair of 7-0 second-half bursts to turn its leads into one of 15 and then into 20. 

How hot was Rock Valley?
Morton College shot 50 percent from field (14 of 28) in the first half. Rock Valley shot 52.6 percent from three in the opening 20 minutes, going 10 of 19 in building a 42-35 intermission edge.

The Panthers were a solid 9 of 22 from three for the game and 27 of 56 overall.

Thanks for the memories…
Sunday's loss at Rock Valley marked the final game for six sophomores who were part of back-to-back 21-11 seasons. The group included Adrian Anderson, Nathanael Lewis, Dre Nobles, Ethan Norman, Charlie McCarthy and Devlyn Rowe.

Thanks for the memories, Part I – Dre Nobles
Only here for second part of the season after transferring from Illinois Valley. Closed out MC career with seventh double-double with game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds. Averaged 22.2 points and 11.6 rebounds over 10 games in February. Made all-Skyway Conference First Team and lost Player of the Year award by one vote.

Thanks for the memories, Part II – Adrian Anderson
Homegrown sophomore guard from Berwyn finished with 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Named all-Skyway Second Team. Career line – 753 points, 239 rebounds, 206 assists, 118 three-pointers and 99 steals. Shot 49.1 percent from field, 44.9 percent from three and 82.5 percent from free-throw line. 463 points most scored by a Panther in single season since Matas Deksnys' 457 in 2023.

Thanks for the memories, Part III – Nathanael Lewis
Scored 14 points and went 3 of 6 from three-point range vs. Rock Valley. His 45 three-pointers were on the team. Averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game this season. All-Skyway Honorable Mention going to make some four-year school very happy – best is yet to come!

Thanks for the memories, Part IV – Ethan Norman
Made an impact in Skyway play with 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 59.3 percent mark from floor. Instant energy will be missed as Norman received All-Skyway Honorable Mention accolades. Career line – 294 points, 225 rebounds and 52.2 percent from field. 

Thanks for the memories, Part V – Charlie McCarthy
Appeared in 52 games over two years at Morton College. Career game vs. McHenry in 89-82 win with 17 points on 7 of 7 shooting. Pair of 9-rebounds game vs. Wright in November of 2023 and '24.

Thanks for the memories, Part VI – Devlyn Rowe
Western Oklahoma transfer made 4 of 5 three-pointers and scored career-high 14 points in 70-59 November win over Kishwaukee. 

Thanks for the memories, Part VII – Skyway Conference champions
Morton College's 12-2 showing in the Skyway Conference gave the Panthers a co-champion with Waubonsee. It was the Panthers' first Skyway title since 2019.

Morton College's path to the 2025 Skyway crown wasn't an easy one. The Panthers' chances appeared doomed after a 77-63 road loss to Moraine Valley February 6th put them two back of Waubonsee with five contests remaining.

Five days later, the Panthers were resuscitated when Moraine Valley upended Waubonsee 92-88. Morton College closed out Skyway play with five straight victories including one over Waubonsee that forced a tie.

Repeat seasons
Jon Rush's back-to-back 21-11 seasons made him just the second coach in Morton College's 100-year men's basketball history to produce identical records over two seasons since Tony Amarino went 14-17 during the 1994 and 1995 campaigns.

How we did
The Region IV District A and B championship games are Saturday at Rock Valley.
5 p.m. District A – Bryant & Stratton (27-5) vs. Rock Valley (21-11)
7:30 p.m. District B – Milwaukee Area Tech (14-17) vs. South Suburban (22-10)
Milwaukee Area Tech – beat 82-72 November 23rd
South Suburban – lost 81-70 December 3rd
Bryant & Stratton – lost 76-51 December 17th
Rock Valley – beat 59-47 February 1 and lost 86-74 March 2nd

Top 25 teams in final poll faced this year…
No. 11 Bryant & Stratton
No. 17 Waubonsee
No. 25 South Suburban