The end of the season snuck up on me. I was a game into the playoffs before I realized that we only have a few games left. The sectional semi, then, if we are determined enough to survive New Trier, a sectional final, and perhaps a super-sectional, a state semi, and, by the grace of God, a state final.
This is 4A, a whole new world of biggest games of the year that get harder and harder; tougher and tougher.
The Rams have the skills, mental toughness and experience to complete this run. I was struck by something AJ Chambers said to me after the Warren game. We were walking out of the gym at the same time.
“We have done this before,” he said, alluding to the sectional, semi and state run they are on. He didn’t seem the least bit apprehensive.
Good attitude I thought.
Before Friday’s evening regional final against Maine East, I was trying to figure out how many regional championships the Rams have had in a row. I settled on eleven in a row—since 2015 when my son Dan was a senior.
That’s quite a streak. This winning streak is something. What exactly it’s too early to say. It’s really too early to even talk about it. There is still work to do.
Friday’s contest against was a little unusual. There was a curious couple possessions early in the first quarter where the Rams uncharacteristically gave up some early buckets after back-door passes off of traps. I don’t remember seeing that this year. And certainly not a couple times in a row. The players quickly made adjustment and that all stopped.
Maine East had a couple excellent shooters, Brandon Schreiber in particular who finished with 11 of the Blue Demons 30 points. But it is not like the game was ever in doubt.
Maine East just had no answer for Rashaun Porter scoring in the paint. Porter finished with 16 points. Zion Lee and AJ Chambers each had 12.
The Rams will face the No. 12 New Trier Trevians (26-7) at Loyola on Tuesday evening.
Don’t worry, “we’ve done this before.” Better to be quietly confident and let the other guy obsessively worry.
