I went out to Michele Clark on Wednesday evening to see the 18th ranked Eagles (20-2, 7-1) take on Sean Connor’s Antioch Sequoits (11-17, 7-7). It was my first trip to Michele Clark and my first time seeing the Eagles this season. It happened to be senior night. I hadn’t planned to take senior night photos but given the chance, why not?
Clark has a big team. On its small court, it seemed like there wouldn’t be enough room on the floor for ten players. The Eagles came out in the 3/4 court press. The Sequoits struggled at first but they got the ball up and made some shots. Former DePaul Prep sophomore coach and varsity assistant has his Sequoits playing well.
What is a Sequoit you ask? No one seems to know. One alumnus said he had no idea. One parent said, “who knows?”
Me? I l think a sequoit is a mythical swamp creature that emerges from hiding deep in the lake region to menace unsuspecting flatlanders who wander north off the prairie.
But I digress.
The Eagles got an early lead on the strength of strong outside shooting and points off turnovers a held an eight point at the half.
But Sequoits were hanging around. Late in the third the Sequoits were close. Would it be a repeat of their last trip to the Chicago area last week when a late run and excellent free throw shooting lifted the Sequoits to a two point victory over Ridgewood?
Clark is not Ridgewood. It was Clark that went on the 4th quarter run. A couple of highlight reel alley-oop dunks blew up the gym. Clark coach Terry Head had his team peaking at the right time. Some turnovers, transition buckets and the Eagles had a 25 point lead early in the fourth and went on to a 73-46 victory.
I think the trips to Chicago have given the Sequoits some confidence. They never looked panicked or worried. They were having fun in the small Westside gym against a ranked team filled with large skilled players. I have no doubt Antioch will doing a lot of damage in the Northern Lake County Conference in coming years with Sean Connor at the helm.
