OPRFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â 49
Waukegan 39
Elite teams prove that they can win without their stars and the OPRF boys basketball team proved to be such a squad last week due in large part to the stellar play of guard Marcus Acree.
In a West Suburban (Silver) Conference 60-58 overtime win over Proviso West Friday night, Acree knocked down six 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 25 points. The following night in the City Suburban Shootout at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena, Acree went off again to the tune of 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc in a 49-39 win over Waukegan.
“Yesterday I gained confidence,” Acree said of his six 3-pointers. “My teammates wanted me to take the shots. It was an open court.”
Acree deferred his possible emergence as the team’s primary scorer. “My role to the team is to shoot. If Iman [Shumpert] is having a good game, or if he’s a little off, he’ll keep looking for me.”
At least for two games last week Acree was the man. Georgia Tech-bound Shumpert scored nine points in the Proviso West game and just six against Waukegan, both outputs were well below his season average.
The City Suburban showcase was hyped like a heavy-weight bout between two acclaimed talents. Waukegan’s super sophomore Jereme Richmond matched up against Shumpert. Huskies coach Al Allen was candid in his praise of Waukegan’s big man.
“He [Richmond] is a talented player,” Allen said. “He handles the ball well. I hope he has faith in his coach.”
Though Richmond ended up with a team-high 17 points, the battle between two of the state’s premier players took a backseat to OPRF’s supporting cast which was mostly responsible for the victory.
During a decisive second quarter run, Acree and Daniel Barnes put the rest of the Huskies on their backs. The backcourt duo outscored the Bulldogs 14-2 in the quarter. Acree hit three straight 3-pointers and Barnes’ twisting layup in the lane followed by a three of his own helped establish a 26-9 halftime advantage. Barnes finished the game with 12 points.
Waukegan (11-12) threatened in the second half when shooting guard Colin Nickerson heated up. Nickerson (14 points) knocked down three 3-pointers in the third quarter followed by another three by guard Naudgee Carpenter to cut into the lead, making it 37-26 with 2:30 remaining. Richmond scored eight points in the quarter and it was clear that the Huskies weren’t going to run away with the win.
Tempers flared in the fourth quarter during a tie-up between Richmond and senior Adam Taylor. The two exchanged words before cooler heads prevailed.
Levell Coppage took care of the ball, handling the Waukegan press down the stretch by valuing each possession and ultimately preserving the win.
“Considering playing in a different place, having a different routine and playing a tough game yesterday, we did pretty well,” Allen said. “They needed to get the feel of what it meant to play on a longer court so the athletic department set up a practice at Concordia.”
Allen was impressed with Acree’s shooting touch.
“Marcus shot real well. I hope our motto is too many weapons. They shut Dan [Barnes] and Iman down but Iman has always said he has faith in his teammates.”
The Huskies (21-5) dramatic overtime victory over Proviso West puts them in a first place tie with Lyons Township in the conference. Both teams are 9-2 in the league. The conference rivals will square off on Friday at Lyons Township (7:30 p.m.). The winner will secure the conference title outright.