Boys Basketball: Farmby forgets about rocky start
BY MATT HARNESS mharness@pioneerlocal.com February 10, 2012 10:28PM
Evanston's Jordan Perrin (11) leaps past New Trier's Connor Boehm(3) on Feb. 10, 2012, at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
standings
CSL South
Waukegan 8-1 14-8
New Trier 7-2 18-5
Evanston 5-4 16-9
Maine South 4-5 16-11
Niles West 2-7 5-17
Glenbrook S. 1-8 5-18
CSL North
Glenbrook N. 7-2 17-6
Niles North 6-3 17-7
Maine West 5-4 12-12
Highland Park 5-4 14-10
Deerfield 4-5 9-13
Maine East 0-9 4-17
(Through Sunday)
Article Extras
Updated: March 17, 2012 8:07AM
Evanston boys basketball player Terrell Farmby never was on the same page with coach Mike Ellis last season, the skipper’s first leading the Wildkits.
Frustrated by his role with the Wildkits, he quit the team in the second month of the season. With the encouragement of his teammates, Farmby decided to return for his senior season.
The move paid off big-time at Northwestern University on Friday.
Farmby’s steal and two free throws with 29.7 seconds to go carried the Wildkits to a 55-52 overtime win against No. 21-ranked New Trier at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
“He’s always been a great player,” Evanston senior guard Jordan Perrin said of the 6-foot-3 Farmby. “But he’s been a big improvement this season. He’s doing great. We had to get his spirits back up.”
Farmby finished with a team-best 14 points, as the Wildkits evened the season series with the Trevians.
“My team has kept me poised,” said Farmby, whose team improved to 5-4 in the CSL South and also knocked New Trier out of first place in the league. “I am just taking advantage of my time.”
Evanston looked like it was going to win in regulation, before Reid Berman buried a long-range, three-pointer with 12 seconds left to force OT.
Connor Boehm then split a pair of free throws on two separate occasions, giving New Trier a one-point lead each time. But Leonard Garron worked loose inside with 45 seconds remaining to put the Wildkits in front for good. The senior finished with 10 points.
“Yes, I would say this is the biggest win I’ve had,” Perrin said. “I am proud to say I will have finished off my senior year by beating New Trier at Northwestern.”
While Garron and Perrin both were instrumental in the victory, a cast of other characters made the difference. Seniors Jack Mallers, Bobby Clayborn and Farmby were on the floor down the stretch. Each are in their first varsity seasons.
“It definitely was rewarding seeing those guys preserve and stick with it,” Ellis said. “It’s a good story for them and other kids.”
Farmby got his big break in late January when Ellis inserted him into the starting lineup.
“We were looking for some leadership and toughness, and he was right there providing those things in practice,” the coach said. “He’s taken advantage of a tremendous opportunity.”
Evanston continued its winning ways by beating visiting St. Charles East 60-53 on Saturday. It was the Wildkits’ third win in four games, and moved them to 16-9 overall.
Garron and Perrin both scored 16 points. Josh Irving added 11 points, and Farmby contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
“We had a solid weekend,” Ellis said. “Against New Trier, the difference was we made some mistakes late, but we turned it back around. That’s something we haven’t done in the past. It was good to see us not panic. It was good to see that refuse to lose attitude in overtime.”
Evanston closes out conference play against Glenbrook South on Friday. The Wildkits then play a CSL crossover before breaking prior to the playoffs.
The Wildkits earned the No. 5 seed at the Glenbrook South Sectional.
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