DePaul Prep Falls to Brother Rice 53-52

Lake View's Daniel Loza Scores 1000 Points

[Preview of my Inside-Booster story for this week.]

By Jack Lydon

It was a very good night at Lake View High School Thursday. The Wildcats defeated neighborhood rival Amundsen Vikings 74-66 to take the lead in the Chicago Public League’s White-North division on a night when the Wildcats and the Lake View school community celebrated senior guard Daniel Loza’s reaching 1000 points in his high school career. Daniel is likely to become the school’s points leading by the end of the season.

The moment wasn’t lost on Daniel, “DLo” as he is known. He wasn’t distracted by the celebration in his honor planned for after the game. He was focused on beating Amundsen. Focused on winning the school’s first conference championship in basketball.

DLo led his Wildcats scoring a career high of 32 points Thursday which included a remarkable eight three-point shots made. DLo is now the second highest point scorer in the history of Lake View High School which was established in 1874, making it the oldest public high school in the state of Illinois. The school existed before Lake View as part of the City of Chicago. 

“[Daniel Loza] is the model. When he leaves there will be a Daniel Loza Award because he has set the pace for how to do work,” said Lake View’s fourth year head coach Todd Patterson.

“He's really been working if I can say this on being a three-level scorer. That's what you saw today, him trying to score it all from the three levels. He hits the big threes, but he opens up the game up with [scoring inside and at the free throw line.]”

The school and the Friends of Lake View had arranged a celebration for Daniel’s achievement to be held after the game but there was a game to play first. The Wildcats faced off against neighboring Amundsen High School which is located just two miles north at Foster and Damen.

The Wildcats came into the game with a 9-8 record overall and a 7-0 record in the CPL White-North conference. The schedule that Lake View’s head coach Todd Patterson put together this year is tough with games against Lakes, Jacobs, Notre Dame, St. Viator, West Chicago and Highland Park. These tough games got them ready for tough conference games like this one against Amundsen. A win against Amundsen would put them in a position where they are undefeated in the conference and would be promoted into the CPL’s Red Division next season.

But first the Wildcats had to deal with a very talented Amundsen squad that came into the game 11-2, and 7-0 in the conference.

The Vikings jumped out to an early eight point lead late in the first quarter. But the Wildcats hung around until midway through the second quarter when DLo asserted himself. Hard screens and quick jumpers by DLo lead to four three-point bucket by DLo erasing the Amundsen lead. That second quarter 14-3 run by the Wildcats flipped the script and launch the Cats toward the school’s first ever conference championship in basketball in the schools 150 years.

The leading scorer in school history at the moment is Octavius Parker, a 1999 graduate. Imariz Duran, a 2024 Lake View graduate leads all girls scoring, with over 1000 points. Loza is expected to pass Parker’s scoring total by the end of the year and be the leading scorer in school history.

Coach Patterson said after the game, “Daniel’s father passed away about five years ago. Daniel’s dad is alumni. His Mom is alumni. We’ve got a lot of motivation to get this done.”

The moment was not lost on DLo. Showing a maturity beyond his tender years, Daniel reflected on his years at and family connection with Lake View.

“It’s kind of crazy because when I came to Lake View, my mom had told me that a lot of my family members have went to Lake View, but I wasn't thinking it was a basketball school. I [thought] I needed to go to a school where there's gonna be basketball. When I first came here, there was no actual basketball coach. I told my mom that I might have to transfer. So I'll wait for him to come and then it was Coach Patterson. I had a good connection with him so I stayed.”

Now Daniel is the second leading scorer in school history.

Kenwood Rallies to Beat New Trier 69-66

I went up to New Trier to see Kenwood take on the Trevians on Martin Luther King Day.

The Trevians were shooting lights out. The Irish pair, Christopher Kilpatrick (26 points) and Danny Houlihan (25 points), were a revelation. I had seen New Trier a couple times this year but always in passing like in Pontiac and somewhere else I don’t even remember. I never got a chance to stop and watch. I wish I had. The Trevians can shoot the ball.

In the second half, Kenwood went to a zone defense to stop the Trevians. It largely worked. New Trier was getting one shot. On misses, the Broncos got the ball out running and get some layup. They pulled even midway through the fourth quarter. After that it was anybody’s game, back and forth.

With ten seconds on the clock and the Broncos down 66-64, Kenwood’s Chris Watkins hit a three from the corner on a pass from Aleks Alston. The play was not designed for Watkins but Alston trusted his senior captain the put the ball up. Watkins drained the three giving the Broncos a 67-66. They would close it out with a 69-66 win.

DePaul Prep Defeats Vashon 68-54 at H-F MLK Shootout

The DePaul Prep Rams (19-1, 3-0) defeated the Vashon Wolverines 68-54 this afternoon at the Homewood-Flossmoor MLK Day Shootout. Vashon, a public high school in St. Louis, (12-2) has been Missouri state champions for the last four years. They came into the game with DePaul Prep 11-1. I guess I didn’t know what to expect. As with the first game this year playing an out-of-state team, Mater Dei from Los Angeles at the Chicago Elite Classic, I was just hoping the Rams would play well and not get blown out.

I underestimated the Rams then. I ought to have known better today.

Vashon looked, to me at least, like the best team that the Rams had played all season. The Wolverines were big. They had a size advantage on the Rams on every position except for center where Lashaun Porter had an advantage on Terron Garrett who was listed in the program as a wing.

When the game started, the Wolverines were shooting well, defending furiously and rebounding on both ends.

Midway through the first quarter, the Rams had a nine point lead that Vashon cut to four by the end of the first. They Rams were playing well on defense and dealing with the pressure defense of Vashon about as well has a team could. The Rams were playing about as well as I have seen them play, especially on defense. It was two good teams battling it out. Rykan Woo had nine points in the first. The Rams held a 22-18 lead at the end of the first quarter and maintained that four point advantage at the half, 33-29.

The Rams shined in the third quarter outscoring the Wolverines 15-4. And they never looked back. The full court press that Vashon jumped into only made things worse. The Rams broke the press and ended in layups and back door dunks.

It was as impressive of a game as I have have seen the Rams play. Just so much toughness. Toughness demostrated in no small measure by the elbow inflicted gash that AJ Chambers suffered late in the second quarter. There was an extended time stoppage while the Homewood-Flossmoor janitorial staff mopped the blood off the court. Chambers wasn’t out of the game long. They quickly patched him up and he was back in the game wearing the number 21 jersey at that point.

Junior guard Rykan Woo had 18 points. Junior center Rashaun Porter had 16 points and the player of the game trophy. Senior point guard Makai Kvamme had 15 points. Let’s not forget the 4 points added by Rob Walls whose defense is worth three time as many points as he scores. Jonas Johnson came off the bench and added 7 points. AJ Chamber added 6 points, at least I think he did when I add up the scores of numbers 3 and 21. Gus Donohue added a bucket.

Maybe I am too close seeing too many DePaul Prep games. I can’t really judge how good they are. Let’s just say they are No. 1 and only getting better. IC Prep away on Tuesday and then Brother Rice at home on Friday night.

DePaul Prep Survives Mount Carmel 66-63

[Preview of this week’s article in the Inside—Booster]

By Jack Lydon

“We don’t have any rivals.”

Not sure that he meant it the way it came across, but that’s what DePaul Prep’s Rykan Woo said when asked about Mount Carmel after his new team, the DePaul Prep Rams (18-1, 3-0) survived a late challenge to defeat the Caravan 66-63 at Mount Carmel Friday evening.

Woo may not appreciate the rivalry, this being his first year on the Rams, but DePaul Prep’s rivalry with Mount Carmel is very real. The DePaul Prep has played and defeated Mount Carmel three times in the last twelve months. The Rams defeated the Caravan last February 41-38 to win the Chicago Catholic League and then again a month later to win the 3A state championship over Mount Carmel 49-41. There is also the looming possibility of a fourth meeting in this year’s 3A playoffs. The way the sectional assignments line up, if both teams advance they could meet again in March in a state final or semi-final.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Mount Carmel head coach Phil Segroves when asked about losing three times to DePaul Prep in the last year.

“We feel we’ve got something pretty special here and we know they do too. We’re gonna just keep knocking on the door.”

The game opened with the DePaul’s defense taking Mount Carmel out of what they wanted to do. The defensive engine for the Rams runs on senior guard and defensive specialist Rob Walls. Walls took a large hand in shutting down Mount Carmel’s star point guard Noah Mister Friday night. In one sequence midway through the second quarter, Walls tied up Mister and stole the ball. A quick pass by Walls to Rams’ point guard Makai Kvamme lead to a layup and the Rams opened an eight point lead.

“Usually, you’ll see me take a charge out there and all the sudden you’ll see all of us getting excited. That just gets us going. It’s fun being out there. Playing with competitors, it’s fun,” said Walls.

The Rams defense set the tone, but junior guard and Whitney Young transfer Rykan Woo and junior center Rashaun Porter scored the points. Woo lead the Rams with 28 points, including three three-pointers and thirteen free throws.

“We know that Rykan Woo is a very good player. Even though Makai Kvamme runs the show at point, [DePaul’s] offense goes through Woo,” Segroves said.

“He’s their scorer. We knew that. We did our very best to defend him. He still came out on top. Sometimes you have to tip your cap.”

 “I think it’s just repetition and practice. Just trying to not let my mind mess around with me,” Woo said of his hitting 10 of 12 free throws in the game.

“My teammates do a great job setting me up all the time. I give them a lot of the credit.”

In addition to Woo’s twenty-five points, Ram’s junior center Rashaun Porter had sixteen points including two big free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory.

Despite the defensive efforts of Walls and the scoring efficiency of Woo and Porter, the Caravan came roaring back in the closing minutes. Let by senior guard Grant Best with twenty-three points, Mount Carmel came back from a thirteen-point Rams lead early in the third quarter to make it a one possession game in the closing seconds.

The Rams improve their record to 18-1 with their only loss coming in the fourth game of the season to then #1 ranked Kenwood and then only by two-points on the last possession of the game.

The Catholic League is also coming into focus. Mount Carmel now has two losses, one earlier in the year to Fenwick and one tonight to DePaul Prep. Brother Rice suffered a Catholic League loss on Friday to St. Ignatius. Only DePaul Prep and Fenwick are undefeated in the Chicago Catholic League’s Blue division. The Rams will face the Friars on February 14th but there are plenty of league games for both teams between then and now. Still a lot of basketball yet to play.

For now at least, the DePaul Prep Rams are likely to retain their number #1 ranking this week and sit atop the Chicago Catholic League just short of two-thirds of the way through the season.

DePaul Prep Upsets Mother McAuley 56-48

The DePaul Prep Rams (18-8, 3-3) defeated the Mother McAuley Mighty Macs (13-8, 2-3) 56-48 Thursday evening at DePaul Prep.

Some photos from the game.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Francis de Sales 66-37

DePaul Prep Rams (17-1, 2-0) defeated St. Francis de Sales (5-10, 2-1) 66-37 at DePaul’s Tom Winiecki Gym on Tuesday. Rams face Mount Carmel at Mount Carmel on Friday in big Chicago Catholic League Blue matchup.

These are some photos from tonight’s game.

DePaul Prep Survives Loyola 43-35

The DePaul Prep Rams (15-1, 3-0) defeated the Loyola Academy Ramblers (15-5, 1-2) 43-35 on Friday evening at Loyola. I have to hand it to Loyola. Tom Livatino had the Rams playing his game. Slow the tempo way down, play very physical and hope to edge teams at the end.

It was working in the first half with the assistance of the referees. I don’t like to criticize referees. They are usually very good. In first half of this game, the referees were let them play. Meaning they weren’t calling any fouls. This hurt the Rams. Their shots were not falling.

The Ramblers were hitting shots at least enough to stay close to the Rams. Loyola’s center Brandon Loftus was impressive in the paint and hitting outside shots.

The second half was different for the Rams. The refs started calling fouls and the Rams were able to score like they usually do.

The Rams gained a lead and were able to build it with some remarkable free throw shooting to seal the victory. Junior Rykan Woo was 8 for 8 in the game and 6 for 6 in the last 1:05 of the game.

The Rams improve to 15-1 overall and 3-0 in the Chicago Catholic League Blue and probably retain their #1 ranking.

A little past the midway point of the season 16 games into the 30-game season, the Rams are the No. 1 ranked team in the Sun-Times Super 25. They got that spot after winning their inaugural appearance in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. It was another achievement for the DePaul College Prep basketball team that has now become a “program.”

At the R-B tournament in the summer of 2023, I was talking to Mike Mullin of the Illinois Wolves. He was the first person that I heard use the term “program” in conjunction with DePaul Prep. After just one 2A State Championship, some might argue that the “program” moniker might be a little premature. Not anymore. Since 2019, the DePaul Prep Rams have achieved a third place in 3A, a No. 1 ranking in the 2020, the COVID year, a 2A state championship, victory in Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, a 3A state champion and a Pontiac title. Combine that unprecedented success with the same coach in the program for 10 years, a coach with over 300 career wins, and you are pretty much talking “program.”

That’s all fine but there are games to play. This season has seen the return of proven producers Makai Kvamme, Rob Walls, Rashaun Porter, AJ Chambers and Jonas Johnson. But it’s the emergence of Rykan Woo that have brought the Rams, admittedly a 3A team, to that top tier.

Woo, a transfer from Whitney Young, is averaging 17 points a game. His eye popping 24 points and 6 of 7 three pointers against Warren has him being talked about as the best player in the whole junior class. I first saw him play at the R-B tournament this past summer. But it was at the Ridgewood summer event that he turned heads. A longtime DePaul Prep observer told me that this 24-25 team would be better than the last two state championship teams. We will see about that but the addition of Rykan is making a believer out of me.

The Rams schedule has been rough. At the start of the season, Tom Kleinschmidt told me, “We are going to lose some games this year.”

Not true so far. Only one loss. And then to the No. 1 team at the time, Kenwood. And then only by two points in the last ten seconds of a weekend shootout game. Add in some signature wins over Niles North, Lane, Rich Township, Mater Dei (a California powerhouse program), Curie, Benet and Warren.

I would say the first half went well for the Rams. The bulk of the Chicago Catholic League games will be played in the second half, namely Mount Carmel, Brother Rice, St. Ignatius, DeLaSalle and Fenwick. Who cares about Pontiac and state championship if you don’t win the Chicago Catholic League Blue? We will see about the second half.

Lincoln Park Handles Lane Tech 62-46

[Preview of this week’s story in the Inside—Booster.]

By Jack Lydon

Lincoln Park hosted Lane Tech (9-9, 4-3) Thursday for a key game in the Chicago Public League’s Red Shield conference. Basically, the championship of the Northside. The Lions (15-1, 6-1) handled the Champions winning 62-46.

Some might have thought that with Lincoln Park ranked #11 and having a gaudy win/loss record, it would be all Lions. But Lane Tech has played have played top competition this season. Very top competition: #1 DePaul Prep, #2 Kenwood, #6 Brother Rice, #12 Curie, #13 Niles North—twice, formerly ranked St. Ignatius as well as top out-of-state competition at a Washington DC shootout. And the Champions just knocked off #19 Whitney Young on Tuesday. The Champions are much, much better than their record indicates.

With the size and length that the Champions possess, their ability in recent games to hit three-pointers and playing on Lincoln Park’s small home court, this thing could have gone either way.

It went Lincoln Park’s way, and it started early. The Lions jumped out to an 8-0 first quarter lead. The Lions were amped up and playing tough inside and out. Hitting shots and grabbing boards on both ends.

“[Our] guys they came in with a lot of fight,” Lincoln Park head coach Joshua Anderson said of his Lions.

“They executed. They were mentally locked in. They played harder. They played tougher. They played technique. They boxed out. They did exactly what I told them to do. I told them the shots what would be open. That’s just all from our execution.”

Lane rallied and made it game. Lane’s Zach Mazanowski quickly added five points late in the first quarter bringing them right back. Even so, the Lions would maintain a six to ten-point lead throughout most of the rest of the game.

The Lions gave no quarter to the size and length possessed by the Champions. Lions’ center Keyshawn Barfield battled the Champions’ division one prospect center Dalton Scantlebury the whole game.

The Lions turned off Lane’s usually productive three-point shooter. The Champions managed only one three-point field goal in the gameThe Lincoln Park gym is a unique place for top-level high school basketball game. It’s small. Very small. Three rows of seats on each side and none along the baselines. The staff at Lincoln Park are careful only to all proper number of people in the gym. It couldn’t be more than a couple hundred. But it was enough to make it load and provide a distinct home court advantage for the Lions with their students and fans quite literally on the edge of the court.

“I think the atmosphere was great. I love it. It was like a north side battle. You’ve got kids on both sides who know each other. It was great. I think the home court advance came to us, our school and wave of kids came out and show pride and support,” Anderson said of his team’s home court advantage.

The Lincoln Park Lions are one of the teams that emerged this year. It’s not like no one expected them to be good. They should signa last season. But the Lions have been a top team Ranked all year. They defeated Whitney Young, St. Laurence and Curie, all ranked teams. They lost to Red Shield rival and perennial powerhouse Simeon by one point in a wild one at Simeon. They lost to suburban powerhouse Warren Township also by just one point.

Of their success this year, Anderson said, “I attribute that to the hard work that these guys put in. We watch film. We work on things. When it comes to certain teams and they see film and they see what a team can't doing and won't do, we feed off that and we attacked that. We attack team’ s weaknesses.”

The Lions are poised to win the Red Shield conference. It could work out that the Lions will play #2 ranked Kenwood who is undefeated in the conference for the championship. The Lions have one loss in the conference, but if they win the rest of their conference games and defeat Kenwood in the regular season penultimate game, they would be Red Shield champs.

Just saying. Still almost half the season to play.

Lane Defeats Whitney Young, Again

By Jack Lydon

The Lane Tech Champions defeated (9-8, 4-2) Whitney Young (10-7, 5-2) on Tuesday for the second year in a row. This time at Whitney Young by the score of 61-57. This time the attitude of the Champions seemed palpably different before the game. They just had these, okay, let’s go looks on their faces. It might have been the brutally difficult schedule put together by Lane’s coach Nick LoGalbo that toughened their hides.

“We played the top five teams in the state. We played Niles North twice, a top ten team. We went out to DC we played some best teams that country. Now it’s time to put it all together. In our first game in 2025, winning on the road at Whitney Young, we did that tonight,” LoGalbo said.

The Champions have indeed played top competition, like the very top: #1 DePaul Prep, #2 Kenwood, #6 Brother Rice, #12 Curie, #13 Niles North—twice, formerly ranked St. Ignatius as well as top out-of-state competition at a Washington DC shootout.

The Champions had a great first quarter. The defense was dominant holding the Whitney Young Dolphins (10-7, 5-2) to ten points. Brayden Rosenkrantz had eight of the Champions’ eighteen points including two three pointers. He added a third three early in the second quarter.

“That's who he's always been, an unbelievable shooter and an unbelievable defender,” LoGalbo said of Rosenkrantz.

“Early in the year he was just up and down with his confidence. We told him he's our point guard. We believe in him and he's just bad at a whole other level, but it started with him defending and we're really proud of him and we need to keep it rolling.”

The game was by no means over after the first quarter. The Dolphins came charging back with a 13-0 run in second quarter and briefly took a lead late in the quarter. The second half was back and forth until late. The Lane defense again took it up to very high level. The Dolphins were opposed on every shot and could not get anything to fall. The Champions built and held a lead through what seemed to be the force of will more than pretty basketball.

With games left against Lincoln Park, New Trier, Simeon and Hyde Park in the second half of the season, their brutally tough schedule seems to be paying off at the right time for the Champions to make a run breaking them into the rankings and launching them into the 4A playoffs.  

No rest for the weary. Lincoln Park at Lincoln Park is on Thursday. Key game for the Champions. Get there early. Very few seats in Lincoln Park’s gym.