Boys Basketball: Glenbrook South gaining momentum for postseason

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2/17/12 Glenview-Glenbrook Souths Victor Levi goes to the basket against Evanstons Matt Munro. Stacia Timonere/for Sun Times Media

STANDINGS

CSL South

*Waukegan 9-1 15-9

New Trier 8-2 20-5

Evanston 6-4 17-9

Maine South 4-6 16-12

Niles West 2-8 5-18

Glenbrook S. 1-9 6-19

CSL North

*Glenbrook N. 8-2 18-6

Niles North 7-3 18-7

Highland Park 6-4 15-10

Maine West 5-5 12-13

Deerfield 4-6 9-14

Maine East 0-10 4-18

* — conference champions

(Records through Sunday

Article Extras

Updated: March 24, 2012 8:08AM

If Friday’s 70-65 loss to Evanston was the final home game for the Glenbrook South seniors, then it was a memorable one, albeit disappointing.

The Titans (6-19, 1-9 CSL South) trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter, before coming back to tie the game six minutes later.

Glenbrook South then fell behind by 10 the fourth, only to make another charge. The Titans evened the contest with just over a minute left and had a chance to win it late.

Ultimately, that chance was unsuccessful, and GBS was outscored 14-9 in the extra session.

But the Titans had given the Wildkits (17-9, 6-4) a real battle.

“We played hard. It was our senior night and I didn’t expect anything less,” said senior forward Victor Levi, who led GBS with 20 points. “We just didn’t come out with the result we wanted.

“I feel like we’ve been able to come back (in games this season) and make it close. We’re just struggling to come out on top. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into playoffs.”

Glenbrook South, the No. 13 seed, is scheduled to open Notre Dame Regional action Monday against No. 20 Mather. Host Notre Dame, the No. 4 seed, awaits the winner in the regional semifinal, while No. 5 Evanston could be the opponent in a regional final.

The regional champ gets a trip to the Glenbrook South Sectional.

Should Glenbrook South somehow find its way into a regional final against Evanston, the Titans will have to feel confident against their conference foe, a three-point winner earlier in the season.

The Wildkits led Friday’s matchup 23-19 at halftime before scoring the first seven points of the second half to go up 30-19.

But Glenbrook South responded with a 19-8 run that included eight points from senior guard Jamie Nikitas (15 points) and six from senior forward Justin Busiel (12). Nikitas tied the score 38-38 with a three-pointer with 2:15 remaining in the third.

Evanston quickly regained control of the contest in the fourth, only for the Titans to storm back.

A Siegel hoop tied the score 56-56 with 1:08 remaining. But the home team turned the ball over with three seconds left on what was a potentially game-winning possession.

Wildkits senior forward Leonard Garron scored six points in overtime to lead his team to victory.

Glenbrook South head coach Scott Nemecek said he was proud of the Titans’ performance against a good team.

“Our guys were hitting shots. Levi was hitting some threes and he hadn’t taken many this year,” Nemecek said. “I think our seniors have recognized the time (left in their career) is short and they are playing with reckless abandon. Our juniors are excited to help them any way they can.”

The effort against Evanston, coupled with a 66-49 win over Wheeling on Feb. 14, has given the Titans some confidence according to Nemecek. With the regular-season finale against Maine East scheduled for earlier this week, the coach said his team expects to go into the postseason feeling good about itself.

“It feels like we have gained a chunk of momentum,” Nemecek said. “We hope to roll into the first-round game against Mather with a little avalanche coming up behind us, and hopefully we can keep rolling.”