Boys Basketball: Garron’s absence costs Evanston against athletic OPRF
BY DAN SHALIN Contributor January 28, 2012 10:16PM
1/28/12 Evanston- Evanstons Jordan Perrin is defended by Oak Park River Forests Jakari Cammon. Stacia Timonere/for Sun Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: May 9, 2012 10:13AM
Evanston missed senior Leonard Garron Saturday night. Actually, the Wildkits could have used two or three Leonard Garrons.
Facing an Oak Park-River Forest team with a NCAA Division I-sized frontcourt, Evanston needed all the help it could get inside.
But with college football’s national signing day approaching, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Garron was away on a football recruiting trip, certainly an excused absence for an athlete whose future is on the gridiron.
Without Garron on hand to throw his weight around, the Huskies took advantage of Evanston under the basket. Gabe Levin, a 6-foot-7 senior, took over the game in the second half, scoring nine of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter of a 49-41 OPRF win.
“We gave up a lot of points in the paint against a very good team,” said Evanston head coach Mike Ellis.
A bright spot defensively for the Wildkits was the job the team did on OPRF’s Bradley-bound point guard Ka’Darryl Bell, who was held scoreless (0-for-6 from the field). Bell battled foul trouble for much of the game.
The Wildkits (13-8) jumped out to a 10-0 lead, and led 13-7 after one quarter. However, they struggled offensively from there. Evanston shot 23 percent from the field, and scored just four baskets in the final three quarters.
“It’s hard to say we took bad shots,” Ellis said. “Our kids made good decisions — took good shots — but they didn’t go in. But part of that is a credit to Oak Park’s defense. They were there on close-outs, and in your face. They do a good job guarding you with pressure.”
Despite the home team’s offensive struggles, Evanston tied the score at 28-28 midway through the third quarter. But the Huskies then pulled away with an 11-0 run.
Terrell Farmby led Evanston with 13 points and had six rebounds. Senior Matt Munro used his 6-6 frame to battle down low, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Farmby has been one of the feel-good stories of the season for Evanston. The senior saw limited playing time early in the campaign, but has become a starter and key contributor during the second half.
Ellis said the athletic 6-3 forward earned his playing time thanks to hard work in practice.
“Farmby has been a great teammate, and he’s stepped it up and been more comfortable with his role,” the coach said. “He’s really playing stronger. He’s one of those guys we’re going to need as we come down the stretch.”
Farmby said everything clicked for him over the winter break: his practicing got better, and his hard work was rewarded with playing time.
“(During the holidays) the coaches said, if I kept working hard that my time would come. Eventually, it did,” Farmby said. “Now, I feel I’m part of the rotation. (Coach Ellis) said that if you work hard, you are going to play. Now I really look forward to working hard in practice.”
Garron scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Waukegan defeated Evanston 54-49 in Waukegan on Friday. The Wildkits fell to 3-4 in the CSL South.
Garron also played solid defense on Waukegan star Akeem Springs, holding him to 11 points, well below his average. Sophomore Jackson Mihevc (9 points) hit three from behind the arc for the Wildkits, and Farmby had eight points and nine rebounds.
Evanston hosts Niles West at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Wildkits will face St. Patrick in the second game of the North Shore Shootout tripleheader, at Loyola Academy, at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment