GBS Boys' Basketball: Titans Socked by Saxons

EVANSTON – They knew it was going to be an uphill battle.

Facing a team they had lost to a few weeks ago - this time without their senior co-captain and leader Jack Ryan - Glenbrook South fought gamely, but ultimately lost to Schaumburg, 46-31, in the first round of the IHSA playoffs at Evanston High School.

Without Ryan, who suffered a concussion against Maine West last week, the Titans were missing one of their premier scoring threats. And while guys like sophomore Matt Siegel stepped up to score eight points, it wasn’t nearly enough.

Glenbrook South (8-19) didn’t score until almost midway through the first quarter, and shot just 2-for-12 (17 percent) in the opening frame. Fortunately for GBS, Schaumburg struggled offensively too, so they led by just four points after a quarter. 

But the Saxons caught fire in the second; with quick point guard Javon McDonald scoring nine points and the team shooting 7-of-8 from the field for a 25-16 lead at the break.

GBS lost their hot shooting hand in the locker room, again making just two field goals and watching Schaumburg (15-12) pull away. A tip play to Saxons forward Christian Spandiary at the buzzer was the ultimate dagger and put the Titans behind 37-21.  

“Our guys worked very hard, but I don’t think we were tenacious enough,” Glenbrook South Coach Scott Nemecek said.  “We were at the rim for a lot chances, but they didn’t go down.  You’ve got to make those [shots].”

The Titans didn’t attempt their first free throw until early in the fourth quarter. Senior guard and co-captain Corey McMahon finished his stellar career with a team-high 10 points, sophomore Matt Siegel scored eight, and Jamie Nikitas added six.

McDonald led the Schaumburg with a game-high 17 points, while Spandiary and Kyle Bolger contributed nine points apiece.

“It’s too bad for our seniors,” Nemecek said. “We missed Jack [Ryan] a lot … but at the end of the day, our record speaks for itself.”

Still, Nemecek was encouraged by the contributions this season from players like Nikitas, Siegel, sophomore forward Justin Busiel, and junior forward Victor Levi, and is eager to get back to work in preparation for his sixth season at the helm.

“We lost this game now, and there’s obviously a lot of work ahead of us,” Nemecek said. “One thing we can do with the spare time we have is to have player meetings and watch tape, start making a plan for next year.”