Notes, observations and other thoughts about basketball played at 38th and Central...
Morton College went big and Young to get rid of a Webb. Black Hawk responded with the Ali shuffle. The Panthers' Banks overflowed and Morton College advanced in the Region 4 District B playoffs with a 72-64 home win February 26th.
After Black Hawk's Kendall Webb dropped 14 of his 16 points in the first half, Morton College coach Jon Rush responded by starting two bigs in 6-8
Zion Young and 6-10
Cristian Revenco to start the second half.
Young, limited to two first-half points, scored seven of Morton College's first second-half points to extend the Panther advantage to 39-30.
The Panthers appeared to have things well in hand by extending their lead to 49-36 with 10:47 left. However, Morton College didn't score for the next three minutes and managed just one free throw over a four-minute stretch as Black Hawk, led by Siraaj Ali's 20 second-half points, pulled to 52-51.
Javerion Banks and
Kevin Cathey Jr. answered with three-pointers. For Banks, it was a prelude of what to come as the freshman guard scored eight points in a 90-second span that included a head-on floater off the glass, a three-pointer and an up-and-under and-one off an inbounds play that put Morton College ahead 68-62 with 1:34 to go.
Banks, who finished with 15 points, scored 11 points in 4½ minutes of the second half.
Not to be overlooked was a big defensive play by
Danny Thompson, who after missing a three-pointer, sprinted back down and knocked the ball off Black Hawk's Jayden Blackwell. Blackwell was going in for a layup that would have given Black Hawk the lead with 3:44 left.
Thompson's play became that much bigger when Black Hawk's Caeden Terrell came up with a three-pointer to give the Braves a 62-60 lead. Instead of chasing a four-point deficit, the Panthers only were down two.
What's next
No. 3 seed Morton College moves to face No. 2 South Suburban in the Region 4 semifinals at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 1st, in Rockford. It's the third straight appearance in the Region 4 semifinals for Morton College, which beat South Suburban 74-58 December 6th at home.
The last postseason encounter between the two schools was in 2018 when South Suburban beat Panthers 76-67 in the Region 4 title game. Â
Big, big second halves
Black Hawk's Siraaj Ali scored 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half. The Braves also shot 55 percent from three, making 6 of 11 attempts.
The Panthers countered with the trio of
Kevin Cathey Jr. (18 points),
Javerion Banks (15) and
Zion Young (11). Cathey Jr. and Banks both scored 11 points in the second half, while Young had nine.
Rush to glory
With the win, Morton College improved to 20-11. It made head coach Jon Rush just the third coach in Morton College men's basketball history to string together three consecutive 20-win seasons. He joins Tony Amarino (1996-1999) and Frank Lollino Jr. (2008-2011) as the only Panther coaches to accomplish this feat.
Rush, 78-47 in his career at Morton College, is one win away from matching Lollino Jr. (2007-11) and Rick Kilby (1987-91) for the most wins in their first four seasons. Lollino Jr. and Kilby both won 79 games.
High five!
The Panthers put five players in double figures against Black Hawk.
Kevin Cathey Jr. led the way with 18 points, followed by
Javerion Banks (15),
Danny Thompson (12),
Jordan Brooks (11) and
Zion Young (11).
Thursday's quarterfinal resultsÂ
District A
No. 8 Prairie State 98Â
No. 1 Milwaukee Area Tech 104
No. 5 Elgin 60Â
No. 4 Waubonsee 89
No. 7 McHenry 46Â
No. 2 Bryant & Stratton 65
No. 6 Kishwaukee 66
No. 3 Moraine Valley 85
Sunday's semifinal games at Rock Valley
Noon – Milwaukee Area Tech vs. Waubonsee
2 p.m. – Bryant & Stratton vs. Moraine Valley
Thursday's quarterfinal results
District B
No. 8 Lake County 74
No. 1 Rock Valley 94
No. 5 Carl Sandburg 85
No. 4 Madison 67
No. 7 DuPage 75
No. 2 South Suburban 108
No. 6 Black Hawk 64
No. 3 Morton College 72
Sunday's semifinal games at Rock Valley
4 p.m. – Rock Valley vs. Carl Sandburg
6 p.m. – South Suburban vs. Morton College
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