GBS Boys' Basketball: Furious Comeback Falls Short

If Scott Nemecek had any hair on his head, he surely would have pulled it out by now.

Instead, the bespeckled coach merely rubbed his shaved head in obvious frustration and didn’t mince words after he watched his Titans’ furious fourth quarter comeback ultimately fall short in a 50-46 loss to Niles West on Friday at the Titan Dome.

“It’s a broken record at this point,” Nemecek said. “We’re a team that has a lost focus, and it’s really disappointing because you see some good things when they stick their minds to it. We’re 1-8 in this league because we don’t bring it, we’re not physical.”

I really appreciate everyone’s support, the fans and the parents that come out to see us. But honest to goodness, we’re wasting their time and it’s an embarrassment.”

As has been the case all season long, the Titans came out and took a proverbial “punch in the mouth” early on. They trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, shooting 29 percent and committing 8 turnovers. But GBS stayed within striking distance by getting to the foul line and hitting their free throws (11-14).

With fellow senior all-conference performer Corey McMahon struggling with a back injury suffered in practice, senior Jack Ryan stepped up. For the game, Ryan was responsible for eight of the Titans 15 made field goals. He scored 10 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws that gave GBS (8-14, 1-8) its first lead of the game at 41-40 with 2:35 left to cap an 11-2 GBS run to start the period.

After Niles West’s Tony Pierce hit two free throws, South’s Bret Gold (10 points) drew a foul and made a layup with 1:55 to play. But after starting the game 6-for-6 from the charity stripe, Gold missed two critical free throws down the stretch.

Trailing by one with a minute left, Donte Logan stepped away from the sagging Titans’ defense and splashed a three from the top of the key to give the Wolves a lead they would never relinquish. Peirce led Niles West (12-11, 3-6) with 13 points (nine free throws) and Ramsan Younathan added 12.  

The Titans did catch a bit of break in learning that they play Schaumburg in the opening game of the IHSA playoffs. They also happen to visit the Saxons on Tuesday.

“Our game is exactly dictated by the first play of the game,” Nemecek said. “Two guys had to screen for Jack Ryan, and [neither] guy came close. That’s exactly who this team is mentally, physically and emotionally, and it’s disappointing. It’s a waste of a lot of people’s time.”