Running Away
Often times, the end of an undefeated season can disrupt the flow of a team. So too can a blowout loss, even if it’s at the hands of a ranked team. Neither scenario has held true this year for the Chargers. Despite those two losses, at the hands of Oswego East and state ranked #11 Hyde Park, the Chargers have continued to play solid basketball, rolling through conference with a 10-0 mark to go along with a 17-2 overall record.
Back in December before break, the Chargers hosted rival Marmion. The temperatures outside were ice cold and so were both offenses. Part of it was by design, though. Marmion employed a stalling strategy that proved to be very effective. The score was only 31-31 at the end of regulation. In the extra period, the Chargers got an Anthony Kelley dunk and a Brian O’Donnell jumper to hang on 35-33 after a Sean Fichtel three ball at the buzzer missed its mark. Kelley finished with 15 while Mike Adams added 13.
The Chargers next headed off to the Waubonsee Valley Christmas Tournament. In a repeat of last year, they lost their first game after entering with a 10-0 record. The Chargers rebounded by dispatching—in succession—Glenbard North, host (and eventual tournament champion) Waubonsee Valley, and then Naperville North in the third place game. All three of these opponents are large 4A schools and represent big wins for the program, in particular the Waubonsee win. Kelley became the second consecutive Charger to take home the MVP award, following up Mark Adams’s honor last year.
The Chargers got back to business after the break by hosting a very tough IC team. Despite 26 points from IC big man Matt Purdom, the Chargers prevailed 69-58. Mike Adams led the way with 20 points while Nick Czaja had a double-double (10 and 10). Kelley had 17 points, two of which came on what might possibly be the most incredible dunk ever witnessed during a game at Aurora Central Catholic. That dunk finished a pivotal 9-2 run during the second quarter.
The next night the Chargers had to stage an impressive comeback at St. Edward. They were down the entire night thanks to some hot shooting by Josh Dix and Steve Martin. The Chargers were trailing by eight with two minutes into the fourth quarter when Joey Guth became instant offense. He scored 11 points over the next three minutes to help erase the deficit and give the Chargers the lead. Free throws down the stretch sealed a 63-60 win. Adams led the way with 20, while Kelley chipped in 16.
After an easy win against Montini, the Chargers partook in the MLK Classic at Whitney Young High School against state-ranked Hyde Park. The Chargers were down by twelve at the break but cut it quickly to seven. That’s when the wheels fell off. Increased defensive pressure by the Thunderbirds led to a 16-2 run. At that point, the Chargers zone failed them for the first time all season. Hyde Park pulled back into a stall, causing the Chargers D to spread out. Hyde Park then cut through it for easy lay-ups. In a game where the Chargers needed to play with a lead, they didn’t and it led to an 80-48 loss.
The Chargers were able to rebound nicely last Friday at home against Driscoll. The transition attack that has been rolling throughout all of January picked up a notch in the first half as the Chargers led 27-14 at the break. They also got a huge lift off the bench in the second period from reserve Matt Wagner. He finished the game with 7 points, around a half-dozen rebounds, and a key charge taken against 6’7” Driscoll big man Matt Kaban. Driscoll mounted a charge late but the Chargers were able to stem it with a huge offensive rebound and putback by Steven Hollon and a bank-in three by Adams. Adams finished with 16 to accompany Kelley’s 17.
The Chargers are next in action Friday January 31 against Marian Central Catholic, and then on Tuesday February 3 at Aurora Christian.
