DePaul Prep Defeats #1 Whitney Young 55-43

The Rams had lost to Fenwick a week before. Despite beating Brother Rice in an emotional last game in the Tom Winiecki Gym, it felt like DePaul limped into the Chipotle Clash of Champions. They were ranked 11 or 19 or something. I don’t even remember.

Coach Kleinschmidt had them ready. Ready to play their game. As is their game, the Rams opened a lead. The top ranked Dolphins rebounded and actually lead at half time.

No problem. Just keep playing the Rams’ game. Whitney Young was happy to oblige. Well, maybe not happy. They didn’t have much say in the issue. The Rams controlled the tempo, moved the ball around until they found a seem to exploit. And that they did.

TY had 32. Brian Mathews had 11.

Oh, and they made their free throws at the end. Doing that, when one has the lead at the end, makes winning look easy.

I was more of a spectator for this game. It shows in the photos. I don’t even care. I just enjoyed the game.

It was proof to me just how special this group of young men—this team—is. Proof that Tom Kleinschimdt is a special kind of coach. Proof that even in the disappointment and frustration of the season of COVID, we can all take something special from the experience.

This was just the first game of the Chipotle Clash of Champions; still more work to do. But all the proof I needed.

DePaul Prep Opens New Football Stadium. Rams fall to Marian Catholic 27-20

I didn’t realize what a football, soccer and lacrosse stadium can mean to as school. It is literally the front yard of the new DePaul Prep campus.

The Rams had their first football game at the new stadium last week on Holy Thursday. The team has improved. The kids have bought in. They were driving for a tying touchdown with a minute to go but came up short 27-20 against Marian.

I have no doubt that the Rams will be back in the Gordon Tech type football glory in years to come.

These are the photos. I hope you like them.

Should I continuing writing?

Sun-Times writer Mike Clark came to the DePaul Prep stadium opener to cover the Marian Catholic game for his main job as preps editor for the Northwest Indiana Times. It’s always great to see Mike. He is such a great guy and so much fun to talk to about prep sports. Just so much knowledge.

He asked me how I liked writing.

“Sports writing is hard,” I told him.

I like to think of myself as a competent writer. Most of what I do is technical writing. I concentrate on clarity and brevity. That should translate to sports writing I thought. I was not looking to win any Pulizer prizes. Just say what happened and publish a photo. Four or five weeks into writing pieces for Inside Publications, such as they are, I am not so sure it’s a good idea. My writing hasn’t been good. And by that I mean, it’s “bad.”

Ten years ago, I started covering sports and politics for Patrick Boylan’s Center Square Journal. It was hard and time consuming. I gave it up to concentrate on photography. I love the photography. I have gotten pretty good at it. It’s opened doors for me.

I knew all this when I approached Inside about writing a prep sports column. My thinking was I don’t have to write well. Who really cares? I didn’t want to be so proud that if I can’t do it as well as real sports writers, I won’t do it at all. There is so little coverage of high school sports that people will just be glad to have more. The Inside publisher loved the idea. He didn’t seem concerned with my amateur status.

As I was talking to Mike outside the DePaul Prep stadium, he clearly had read my articles although he graciously never said as much.

“You are telling a story. Nobody wants to hear too much of the game action,” he said. “Just figure out what the story is and write about it.”

Mike is so right. His gentle advise affirmed my thinking. He inspired me to keep going. He pointed me in the right direction on how to be a good sports writer.

Thanks Mike.

Payton Grizzles Chew Up Orr 44-8 in CPS Football Opener

This is a preview of my article that will be published in Wednesday’s Inside Publications Booster, Skyline and News-Star:

The Payton College Prep opening night 44-8 victory over Orr was the perfect metaphor this weird COVID football season: started late, ended early.

The preceding Schurz victory over Mather ran long. CPS sports administration cleared everyone out of the stadium and didn’t let in the players, coaches, staff, announcer Mark Farina and this reporter until 7:00 p.m. A few parents watched from outside the stadium at the south end of the field.

Once the game was on, there was plenty of action. After Orr took the opening kickoff, quarterback 6’1” senior Maqael Henderson ran a keeper on the first play for nine yards.

The Spartans moved the ball up the field but on a fourth and short they dropped back into punt formation. The Grizzlies were not buying it and did not send back a returner. So the Spartans punted. Grizzlies took over on their own 23 yard line.

On his first ever carry as a running back, Payton 6’0”, 205 lbs, senior Joey Savaiano took a hand off around end and sprinted up the sideline 77 yards to the season’s first score on the season’s first play from scrimmage for the Payton Grizzlies. The point after failed.

After taking Payton’s kickoff, the Spartans shifted tactics and began throwing. A couple of throws to Orr’s speedy split end, senior Jamarion Collins, failed to connect. Maquel Henderson has a big arm and he was getting protection. He was just overthrowing his receivers. Again, the Spartans punted.

Again, Joey Savaiano got the ball. On the second play of the series, splitting Spartan defenders, Savaiano sprinted up the middle of the field for another touchdown. This time 79 yards and a score. PAT was good.

With that, the first quarter ended. Grizzlies led 13-0.

Orr dressed only thirteen players of the fifteen on its roster. Almost the whole team had to play both ways. Of the fifteen, ten are sophomores.

Nevertheless, the game was not out-of-hand. If Orr could connect on a couple passes and stop Savaiano’s big runs, we would have a competitive contest.

It was not to be. Payton’s approach was methodical and balanced. The Grizzlies overwhelmed the undermanned Spartans in the second quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Payton moved the ball into Spartan territory. Payton’s 6’1” senior quarterback Eamon Glascott connected on a short out pass to senior wide receiver Danny O’Connell who turned up the sideline. In an acrobatic move worthy of an ESPN Sports Center highlight, O’Connell alluded a tackle from Orr’s Jamarion Collins, reached the ball out to the endzone pylon and scored the Grizzlies third touchdown of the game. PAT from senior kicker Thomas Melecio was good. Grizzlies 20, Spartans 0.

After an Orr turnover deep in their own end, Joey Savaiano added his third touchdown of the half on a ten yard run up the middle. Melecio added another PAT. Just that fast, Payton had pushed the led to 27-0.

Things got worse for Orr. Henderson through an interception. Payton had the ball and with 57 seconds left in the half and quickly moved the ball down to the Orr 15 yard line. A fade into the corner from Glascott to sophomore wide receiver Charlie Newton failed to connect.

Talented young kicker Melecio came on to tried to a 25 yard field goal. It was good as time expired. Grizzlies opened a 30-0 lead.

In the third period, Payton added touchdowns by junior 5’9” running back Jack Dawson on a short pass from Glascott and an impressive quick slant from Glascott to Charlie Newton. Newton ducked a tackle from Orr’s quarterback and free safety Henderson and sprinted up the middle of the field for the score.

Orr’s Henderson is just too good to be denied. With 5:00 minutes left in the third quarter, Henderson connected on a post route to Collins to get the Spartans on the board. Henderson added a two-point conversion on a keeper up the middle.

At the end of the third quarter, Payton led 44-8—then the lights went out.

Seriously. The stadium lights went off. Announcer Mark Farina suggested that the lights were on a timer and would quickly come back on.

After about 15 minutes of darkness, with the players standing around in the cold and a running clock for the fourth quarter, both coaches decided to call the game early. There would be no fourth quarter.

The first win of his head coaching career ended unceremoniously for Payton’s Craig Knoche. He wasn’t even able to get a photo of the scoreboard on his phone. But his tenure as head coach, started with two touchdowns on the first three plays.

“That’s Joey,” Knoche said, “and our offensive line. Really good players. We don’t have a lot of players but we have some really good players.”

“Joey is gonna play in college. He already knows that.”

Asked about his team’s goal, Knoche said, “We don’t really worry about that. I am just happy and excited that this group gets to play. That’s what we have tried to emphasize. I hope it came though in the game. Regardless of what would have happened in the game, the kids were excited to play. [We wanted to] make the most of the ones we have rather than focusing on the lack of nine [games].”

Grizzlies 44, Spartans 8.

Chicagohenge--Vernal Equinox from Adams and Wabash

I have been thinking about taking some “Chicagohenge” photographs ever since saw it several springs ago. It worked out well yesterday falling on a Saturday when I had some time to prepare and got downtown.

The first issue was when to be ready to take the photos. My iPhone weather app said sunset was at 7:03 p.m. Frankly, I did not know how long the effect lasts. I hear all the You Tube photographers talk about “golden hour.” An hour didn’t seem like too much time to wait so I thought I would be ready at 6:00.

Next was where to take the photos from. I wanted to get some El tracks in the foreground. From the Vashon Jordon’s photos I saw on Friday, I thought perhaps the Aon Building looking west down Stetson. The El tracks looked cool.

I wanted a little more of a canyon effect. So I was thinking an El station on Wabash. Turns out that the Washington and Wabash station is in the middle of the block so that wouldn’t work. Adams and Wabash was it.

There is a nice west facing walkway below the platform that works nicely, even a railing to attach my GoPro. I arrived about an hour early. When I got there, it was just me and a woman with her son. See was determined to photograph the event with her iPhone.

I set up my GoPro for a time lapse. GoPros are so easy, practically run themselves.

I figured the 70-200mm on my 5D Mark IV pretty much my best camera, especially for something like this.

Guess who shows up. Vashon Jordon himself. I met Vashon several years ago when we were both shooting a basketball game at Brooks. He was still in high school then. I have happened into him several times since then at various things. Wonderful young man and talented photographer. He quickly set up his stuff.

Not long thereafter the catwalk filled up with photographers and spectators. Show time.

What surprised me most was how quickly the effect comes and goes. It is just a few minutes. The sun doesn’t come straight down. It moves from about 11:00 on a clock face to 5:00.

I had never done this before and I did no research on camera settings (which I obviously should have). I figured light would not be an issue so I set the ISO on 100.

A fast shutter speed would be a must. I tried from 1/500 to 1/8000. Turns out that between 1/600 and 1/4000 work best. The sun itself is blown out anyway. I was afraid to go any slower fearing damaging the sensor.

I did not know what to do about f-stop. I figured it would have to be high. I tried f/22 and f/11. With a high shutter speed, even taking pictures of the sun at f/11, the photos were dark. I settled on f/8. Probably, could have gone lower. I will work on this part in the Fall—Autumnal Equinox.

It was all I could do to frame up the photo, snap off a few and then cycle through settings. Then it was over. Everyone disappeared.

Vashon and I snapped a few selfies and it’s time to go.

I included both color and black and white photos so one can see the difference and which look better.

I like the photos that reveal some of the street traffic. I will have to frame that up better and work on enough exposure for that next time. To do that right it would probably require putting together a composite photo. I don’t know if I have the patience for that. My photoshop skills are rudimentary.

Not for everyone I suppose but very much fun for me. I am pleased that I got usable photos out of it. Nothing too crisp but that will take a little practice.

See you September 22.

DePaul Prep Wins Chipotle Clash of Champions with Win 51-36 over Evanston

The DePaul Prep Rams defeated the Evanston Wildkits 51-36 to win the Chipotle Clash of Champions. Michael O’Brien and the Chicago Sun-Times has the Rams ranked #1—the best high school basketball in Northern Illinois.

I will do a story about the game for Inside Publications and publish it here as well later in the week.

I hope you like the photos. Not my best work but never enjoyed a game more.

DePaul Prep Falls to Providence Catholic 54-37.

The DePaul Prep girls varsity basketball team took on Providence Catholic Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. The young Rams only have one senior on the squad, point guard Eva Budziszewski.

The story on the game will follow. There will be a preview of my Inside article later in the week. For now, I hope you like the photos. It was great to get back to doing girls’ games. This weird COVID season has limited my availability. I should be able to get at least one more in before basketball comes to screeching halt.

As always, Go Rams!

DePaul Prep Falls to Fenwick 66-56 in CCL Blue Showdown

The DePaul Prep Rams traveled to Oak Park Friday to take on Fenwick. The Rams fell to the Friars 66-56.

North Lawndale Edges Lincoln Park 61-58

The Lincoln Park High School Lions boys varsity team had its home opener on Mar. 3, against North Lawndale in another down-to-the-wire affair. This time it was the visiting North Lawndale Pheonix that would edge the home team for a 61-58 victory.

No opening game jitters in this one. Both teams came out running and scoring. Lincoln Park jumped out to a 23-12 first quarter lead largely by senior center Sincere Malone controlling the boards.

Lincoln Park lead 42-35 at the half.

North Lawndale battled back in the second half eventually taking a 57-56 lead with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter.

“In the second half, we ran into a little foul trouble with our big fellow [senior center Sincere Malone] in the first half,” said new Lincoln Park head coach Antwon Jennings.

“We adjusted. We went from playing man-to-man to zone, just trying to give them a different look,” Jennings added. “We were just out of position. [North Lawndale’s] second chance shots killed us.”

Even after losing its lead the Lions battled the Phoenix in back-and-forth action late in the fourth.

Lincoln Park was in position to tie several times late in the game only done three in the last minute. The Lions had two open looks to tie late but two three pointers missed. A turned over by Lincoln Park with 15 seconds remaining sealed the victory for North Lawndale.

When asked what he told his players after missing two shots to tie, Jennings said, “Keep shooting the ball. I feel like I’ve got two of the best shooters in the City in Chris [Hammonds] and Julio [Montes].

“I told Julio I will live with him taking those shots. You gotta take ‘em,” Jennings added. “I wouldn’t do it any different.”

Final was North Lawndale 61, Lincoln Park 58.

This is something of a disappointing 0-2 start to the season for Lincoln Park who had a blowout loss to Whitney Young on Feb. 26. Antwon Jennings comes to Lincoln Park this year from the staff of Morgan Park under legendary coach Nick Irvin. Coach Jennings spent years under Coach Irvin including Morgan Park’s two 3A state championships.

Nevertheless, the future is bright for the Lions who take on archrival Lane Tech on Friday, March 5, at Lane.

Lake Tech Holds to Defeat Jones

After the last-minute postponement of the Farragut game on Friday, Feb. 26, the Lane Tech boys basketball team finally opened its season on Monday, Mar. 1, against Jones. The Lane boys (no longer known as the Indians) beat Jones 40-34, in a defensive struggle.

Both teams came out of the 360-day layoff since their last high school basketball game, very rusty. Shots just would not fall. These jitters combined with very strong defensive efforts by both teams meant that after one quarter of basketball, the score was Lane 7, Jones 5.

The second quarter was not a whole lot better. The score at the half was Jones 15, Lane 12.

“First game jitters; that’s gonna happen, especially after a year layoff and only having a couple practices,” said Lane Tech head coach and athletic director Nick Logalbo.

Things teams settled down at halftime and felt a little more normal, well COVID normal. Shots started falling. It turned into an exciting back and forth game. Lane’s junior guard Sean Molloy sparked the Lane boys with nine of this game high 14 points in the third quarter. Interestingly, Sean Molloy is the youngest brother of Lane’s girls’ varsity basketball coach Megan Molloy.

With 1:06 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Jones senior forward Niko Rosich tied the game at 37 with a long three-pointer.

Lane point guard senior Justin Brown quickly brought up the ball and with 50 seconds to go dished to Molloy. Off the shot fake, Molloy slashed into the lane and was called for a charge. With the foul, the ball went over to Jones with the game still tied with 39 second remaining.

Initially, Jones looked like it would play for the last shot but Rosich broke for the basket missing a layup. Molloy scrambled for the ball and dashed up court. Weaving way through defenders Molloy dropped in a right handed layup being fouled in the process with 20.2 seconds remaining.

Sean added the free throw giving Lane a 40-37 lead. There it would end.

“You know the Molloy boys; those kids are tough as nails. Sean gonna be obviously a really good player for us. We knew he would make those plays. The charge was questionable, but how about a junior responding like that? He wanted the ball right back,” Logalbo said of Molloy.

Sean’s older brother Michael Molloy was Lane’s starting point guard several years ago. Brother Neil Molloy played football at Lane from 2011 to 2015, later playing college football at Illinois Wesleyan.

Sean Molloy had 14 points. Lane’s senior center Aaron McQueen finished with 10 points. Justin Brown had seven.

Jones’ Rosich also with 14 points. Jones’ Devin Boston had 11 points.

One can view the entire game, include Lane Tech sophomore Alex Burstein’s play-by-play, on Lane Tech Athletic’s You Tube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxdhVaJI8sQ&t=53s

Rams 60, Montini 39

The now fifth ranked DePaul Prep Rams traveled to Lombard this morning for a rescheduled game against Montini and defeated the Broncos 60-39.

DePaul plays Loyola Academy tomorrow at home at 7:00. I don’t write much ahead of the Loyola game.

I hope you like today’s photos.

DePaul Prep Defeated Providence Catholic 55-38

The DePaul Prep Rams defeated the Providence Catholic Celtics 55-38 last night (Feb. 24) at the Tom Winiecki Gym.

TY Johnson was honored before the game for scoring his 1,000 point as a varsity player in the first game of the year against St. Joseph.

Today was my day for getting photos of the coaches and of blocked shots.

I hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Handles St. Ignatius 59-38

St. Ignatius has a good team. I have seen them a couple times this year and they have a good young team. Kolby Giles is a beast.

Let me tell you something. Tom Kleinschmidt’s DePaul Prep Rams handled them 59-38 last Friday (Feb. 19). The Rams jumped out to an early lead with tremendous defense and points off the break.

There was plenty of fight in the Wolfpack. Matt Monroe has his team playing well and playing as a team. After opening the game with an 18-6 run, the Rams went a little cold. When asked what happened, Kleinschmidt said, “Well Ignatius happened. They’re a good team. They spread us a little bit. We went to our bench. We haven’t played in eleven days. They’re a good team. That’s what happened to us.”

Nevertheless, the Rams just seemed too quick and too athletic. TY Johnson and Rasheed Bello are the best front court I have seen this year.

Mind you this is not expert analysis here. These are my impressions as a photographer. But man-o-man the Rams look good—fierce even.

In this COVID world, I don’t know how they stack up. I have seen other ranked teams in person and streaming. They are close to the best. If there was a normal playoff, this Rams team would be a 3A finalist. Do they beat Notre Dame to get to the title game? I don’t know. Notre Dame is loaded. I understand that match up is being planned so we might get to find out.

I hope you like the photos.

Notre Dame Survives at St. Patrick, 52-45

I was at St. Patrick Tuesday evening for the ESCC showdown between #5 Notre Dame and #10 St. Patrick. St. Patrick is tough place for a road team. The last Gordon Tech basketball game ever was March 7, 2014. It ended in a 59-39 loss for the Rams at St. Patrick. That home crowd is tough.

Not the same this year. Not the same home crowd but still very tough. St. Pat’s has an excellent team this year they and gave the Don’s all they could handle.

The Dons jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the first quarter but never could break it open.

The Shamrocks pulled off a 15 to 9 run and grabbed a brief 32-31 lead at the 6:01 mark of the fourth quarter.

The #5 ranked Dons are a tough, well coached veteran group with three division one recruits. When they got the lead up to about five, Kevin Clancy went into a stall trusting his players to make the free throws.

They did. Anthony Sayles went eight for eight at the line.

Behind the leadership of the three division one recruits, Anthony Sayles (17 points), Louis Lesmond (14 points) and Troy D’Amico (11) points, the Dons regained the lead and held on to win 52-45. Notre Dame’s Sonny Williams added 8 points and Frank Lynch, (nephew of Chicago’s Sulzer Library librarian and 47th Ward resident, Julie Lynch), had 2 points.

St. Ignatius Blows Past St. Laurence in Second Half for 67-49 Victory

Despite a 24-9 season last year and winning a spot in a sectional championship, number 13 ranked St. Ignatius hosted St. Laurence in a Chicago Catholic League “crossover” matchup between two teams swapping spots in CCL divisions this year. The Wolfpack were, some might say, “relegated” to the White and the Vikings moving up to the Blue division.

“I know; it’s weird. We are moving because of our record two years ago,” said St. Ignatius head coach Matt Monroe.

Relegated or not St. Ignatius is good. Coming off a disappointing 34-31 loss against Loyola Academy on Thursday, the Wolfpack looked flat and tentative in the first half. Just like they did at Loyola.

The Vikings impressed in the first half. Lead by senior guard and football quarterback Darius Wilson, the Vikings defense played well and the offence finished at the other end leading 33-30 at the half.

Monroe lit a fire under them at halftime. “I told them we have to play with energy on defense. When they got active on the defensive end, it jump started the offense,” Monroe said.

The second half was a whole different story. Ignatius outscored Laurence 18-6 in the third quarter. Ignatius did not let up in the fourth. Laurence’s frustration boiled over into two technical fouls. It was over at that point.

When asked if it is the quest for a CCL White championship motives his team, Monroe said, “I tell them to play for each other.” Make your team great.

Monroe has his team playing for each other.

Final score: St. Ignatius 67, St. Laurence 49.

Inside Article Preview--CPS Basketball Getting Underway—Catholic League Opens with DePaul Prep Win and Loyola Loss

The Chicago Public Schools announced Feb. 8 that high school basketball could begin Feb. 11. Coaches are expecting to work through tryouts, start practices on Feb. 12 and start games on February 19. The IHSA announced is extension of the CPS season to March 20, a week longer than the March 13 limit with applies throughout the rest of the state. This gives CPS teams one month and one day to play as many games as can safely be scheduled.

“We have 10 teams in our league [Red West-North]. So it’s nine games that CPS has given us for a league schedule,” Lane Tech Coach Nick LoGalbo said. Lane will play Clark, Farragut, Lincoln Park, Marshall, North Lawndale, Orr, Schurz, Westinghouse and Young. The dates and time have not been finalized.

“What the non-conference schedule looks like, I don’t know. Are they going to allow us to schedule and extra game per week or are they going to cap it? I don’t know,” LoGalbo said.

“Unfortunately, all the Catholic League and 30-mile radius teams have their schedules pretty locked up already. We were going to play DePaul and Pat’s and Ignatius. I don’t know if we are going to be able to get those teams in.”

“I wish I knew more. When [the IHSA] extended [the season] a week, I really thought they were going to do a regular season schedule and then a conference tournament that last week. But based upon the preliminary schedule I received, the regular season goes all the way to deadline. So I don’t think there is going to be any playoff or tournament.”

The preliminary CPS rules given initially to coaches do not allow spectators at all. Each team is allowed 20 people--15 players, two coaches and three others. There would also be two people at the table, three officials, one administrator and a maintenance person. There is not specific allowance for press. However, that may change after coaches have their meeting scheduled for Feb. 11.

Sixth ranked DePaul Prep played its first game Monday, Feb. 8, defeating St. Joseph 54-37 in St. Joseph’s nearly empty gym.

The Rams came out cold. Suffering jitters from the nearly year-long layoff, both teams missed shots and turned the ball over.

After a St. Joseph 7-0 run to open the game and about half of the first quarter, DePaup Prep coach Tom Kleinschmidt dialed up the pressure having his Rams trap the ball handler.

 “Slow start coming out. You have to hand it to Joe’s. They were way more physical than us. They came and punched us in the face . . .. It’s a Catholic League road game so you have to be ready and we weren’t. For whatever reason. I’m not making any excuses. We picked up pressure and started getting some live ball turnovers. We started getting some baskets,” Kleinschmidt said.

Midway through the second quarter the Rams opened a 12-point lead and it never was close after that.

DePaul senior guard Tyler “TY” Johnson lead all scorers with 26 points. DePaul senior guard Rasheed Bello finished with 9 points but had an end-to-end monster dunk in the first half that fired up the Rams.

Senior center Brian Matthews did not play until the start of the fourth quarter. “Brian hasn’t practiced yet. That’s the only reason [he didn’t play]. We brought him in in the fourth to give Dylan a little plow and that’s it,” Kleinschmidt said.

Postponements and cancellations have crippled the Chicago Catholic League schedule. The Rams were scheduled to play Marmion on Feb. 10. However, St. Joe’s had a player with a positive test within 48 hours after DePaul game, and after contact tracing, DePaul Prep determined that the majority of their varsity team would have to quarantine for 10 days. The Rams will miss the Marmion, Montini and Providence St. Mell games. The Rams next scheduled game is Feb. 17. at DeLaSalle Academy.

Loyola Academy opened its season at home Friday, Feb. 5, against Maine South. The Ramblers lead going into halftime but fell behind in the third quarter and could not recover eventually losing 47-36.

Despite the loss, Ramblers’ coach Tom Livatino was upbeat. “It felt normal in an abnormal time. I always thought we would play. It was all good. It was so phenomenal to be back.

As for the game Livatino said, “[a]n inexperienced team lost to an experienced team. That’s what happened. All credit to Maine South. We have a long way to go. We haven’t had a practices to iron the kinks out. We have chosen to play games. I guarantee that we will get better.”

And he was right. After two postponed games, the Rambler hosted #13 ranked St. Ignatius on Feb. 11. The Ramblers edged the Wolfpack 34-31 winning the Jesuit Cup (both schools are run by the Society of Jesus order of Catholic priests).

The Ramblers replaced their Feb. 12 game postponed game against St. Joseph with a game against Glenbrook North.

It’s a strange season. The schedule is fluid. Teams are just going to play as games work through issues during games. With no playoffs, postponed and cancelled games on a daily basis, we should all just enjoy any game we can see. For most fans, that will have to be through a live stream. Most schools are making such arrangements. Check school websites and social media for live stream information.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Joseph 54-37 in Opener

DePaul Prep defeated St. Joseph 54-37 in opening game of this COVID-19 season on Monday evening in an empty gym. Maybe you saw it streaming. I understand St. Joes was broadcasting it on Facebook or You Tube. Essentially, the only spectators were the teams themselves, the St. Joseph sophomore team, a couple of St. Joseph staff members and me.

It was an interesting game. The Rams came out cold. They had good shots; they just missed the bucket early and often. Both teams were missing shots and turning the ball over. It must have been jitters from the long layoff.

After a St. Joseph 7-0 run to open the game and about half of the first quarter, DePaup Prep coach Tom Kleinschmidt dialed up the pressure having his Rams trap the ball handler.

 “Slow start coming out. You have to hand it to Joe’s. They were way more physical than us. They came and punched us in the face . . .. It’s a Catholic League road game so you have to be ready and we weren’t. For whatever reason. I’m not making any excuses. We picked up pressure and started getting some live ball turnovers. We started getting some baskets,” Kleinschmidt said after the game.

Midway through the second quarter the Rams opened a 12-point lead and it never was close after that.

DePaul Prep senior guard Tyler “TY” Johnson lead all scorers with 26 points. DePaul senior guard Rasheed Bello finished with 9 points but had an end-to-end monster dunk in the first half that fired up the Rams. By the grace of God, I happened to be ready and snapped a photo which I posed on Twitter at halftime and is included below.

Senior center Brian Mathews did not play until the start of the fourth quarter. “Brian hasn’t practiced yet. That’s the only reason [he didn’t play]. We brought him in in the fourth to give Dylan [Arnett] a little plow and that’s it,” Kleinschmidt said.

The Rams were scheduled to play Marmion in the Tom Weinicki Gym on Wednesday. However, the game has been postponed because Marmion is quarantined. The next game for the Rams is Friday evening at Montini.

As for the photos, it’s all about the light at St. Joe’s. Those tungsten or sodium vapor lights must be an effort to freak out other teams. Most CCL teams are used to it, maybe even like it. I admit the lights are kind of growing on me. It makes for weird photos. Everything is under exposed orange.

My string of a game every day or so is coming to an end. Just not enough time to shoot, process and write every day.

Hope you like the photos.

Evanston Girls Defeat Vernon Hills 49-22

In the second game of the Evanston v. Vernon Hills season opener, the Wildkits womens’ team opened their season against Vernon Hills 49-27.

Game recap to follow in the weekly column in Inside Publications—insideonline.com.

Here are my pictures from the game. I hope you like them.

Wildkits Pick Up Where They Left Off, Evanston 81, Vernon Hills 60

The Evanston Township High School Wildkits defeated the Vernon Hills Cougars in Evanston Saturday afternoon 81-60.

More about the game in my weekly column in the Inside Publications—insideonline.com.

My thanks to the nice people at ETHS, Athletic Director Chris Livatino, in particular. Very well done and safe operation in this COVID season.

Here are my pictures from the game. I hope you like them. Photos from the girls game to follow shortly.

Basketball Went from Zero to Four in Three Days

I have photographed four basketball games in the last three days and been glad to do it. Thursday was Prospect at Notre Dame. Last night was Maine South at Loyola. Today was Vernon Hills boy at Evanston, then Vernon Hills girls at Evanston.

It look a little getting used to again. Not exactly riding a bike; more like hitting a golf ball. It took a few swings to get back in the groove.

Thursday and Friday were challenging. I had to shoot from the balconies above the court. But not today for the two games at Evanston, I was on the court at it’s wonderful Beardsley Gym. The light in there if very good. As we all know, the light in the gym is the important part of basketball. It was just fun to be back on the floor. The pictures were better because of it.

It was a challenge last night at Loyola to shoot from the balcony well off the floor. I got some good shoots but for that type of shooting I need better equipment. It would have been right up Brian O’Mahoney’s alley. He is very good at doing it this way and gets razor sharp tight images from above. I don’t have the right equipment to make the most of that style.

More about the games themselves in my weekly column in the Inside Publications. Pick up the print version or subscribe at insideonline.com.

Here are the pictures from the Loyola v. Maine South game. Hope you like them. The photos from the Evanston v. Vernon Hills games will follow shortly.