Friday's Doubleheader Recap: Wildkits and Lions Win Ugly Conference Home Games

I had a rare doubleheader Friday night. With the kids still off for Winter break, some schools were able to get games in during the day. Evanston and Lyons were my two stops Friday.

Evanston 45 Maine South 43:

It may be a new era for the Hawks, but it's the same style of play: slow down the tempo, and work for a good basket. While the slower tempo was very effective, the Wildkits found a way to win through 6-4 senior Ephraim Chase. Chase had 10 points off the bench for the Wildkits including two big threes. 21 of the 45 points for Evanston came off the bench.

Maine South guard Kaden Karstens led all scorers with 13 points. Ethan De La Navarre and 6-6 Ryan Pothast had 8 points each, and freshman Panayiotis Sotos had 7 points off the bench for the Hawks. 6-6 senior Prince Adams had 8 points and 6 rebounds for the Wildkits.

Lyons 39 Downers Grove North 38:

The Lions and Trojans revamped West Suburban Silver Conference play Friday night in LaGrange. It was a tight defensive struggle in the first quarter before the Trojans took control in the second quarter. Midway through the third, the Trojans were up 29-18 before the Lions finished the quarter on a 10-1 run.

Enter Jackson Niego.

Niego, who recently committed to Division III Illinois Wesleyan, had just 4 points on 2 field goals. Both buckets put the Lions ahead; the second bucket being the game winner inside the final minute.

Penn commit Niklas Polonowski led the Lions with 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Connor Carroll, who was very instrumental in starting the comeback in the third quarter, had 8 points. Maxwell Haack lhad 10 points and shot 2 of 5 from three, and baseball prospect George Wolkow had 7 points and 3 rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.