Boys Basketball: Garron leads Evanston to overtime win

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2/17/12 Glenview- Evanstons Jack Mallers drives against Glenbrook Souths Victor Levi. 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 8:48AM

Evanston’s trip to Glenbrook South on Friday was primed to be what some refer to as a banana peel — or trap game.

The Wildkits, with one eye toward the postseason, were facing a team that’s had its struggles, but was no doubt going to play inspired basketball on senior night.

In other words, there was a chance Evanston could slip up.

And the visitors certainly got all they could handle from GBS, which twice came back from double-digit deficits to tie the score, with the second rally forcing overtime.

But Evanston senior forward Leonard Garron scored seven of his team-high 19 points in the extra session, and the Wildkits avoided the upset with a 70-65 win. Evanston improved to 17-9 overall, while Glenbrook South dropped to 6-19.

“It was a game of runs,” said Evanston head coach Mike Ellis. “We had leads, but let them back in the game. We could have closed it out, but we chose not to. It was good to see us turn it around in the overtime and play more solid.”

Ellis said he was pleased with his team’s balanced scoring attack.

Senior guard Josh Irving added 17 points for the Wildkits, while senior forward Matt Munro had eight points and 14 rebounds. Senior guards Jordan Perrin and Bobby Clayborn scored nine points apiece.

“It was one of the more impressive times with the way we shared the basketball,” Ellis said. “Irving got on a roll, Garron was on a roll, Perrin got into the lane and made some plays, and Munro had some putbacks. It was the balanced scoring that we like to have.”

Evanston led 23-19 at halftime and stretched the advantage to 11 by scoring the first seven points after the break. Irving had a big three-pointer during that stretch.

But Glenbrook South rallied and tied the game 38-38 late in the third quarter.

The Wildkits pushed the lead back to double-digits, thanks to a 14-4 run. Yet they still couldn’t shake the pesky Titans, who tied the score at 56-56 with a minute remaining in the contest.

“We have to cut down on the mental breakdowns,” said Garron. “It’s on us. We let them back in the game. We should have put them out. We just had a lot of breakdowns.”

Glenbrook South actually had a chance to win the game late in regulation, but was called for traveling with three seconds remaining.

Garron scored the first two hoops in overtime, and Evanston shot 8-for-12 on free throws to preserve the win.

The victory was the 17th of the season for the Wildkits, one shy of the team’s total from last year. Evanston was looking for a chance to tie last season’s mark against Highland Park in the regular-season finale on Tuesday.

“We have 10 seniors and none of them want to go out with a worse record than last year,” Garron said. “These seniors are itching to get a better record.”

The No. 5-seeded Wildkits open Class 4A Notre Dame Regional play against No. 12 Maine West on Feb. 29. A win would advance Evanston to the regional final, likely against No. 4 Notre Dame.

“The bottom line is, we have to get better every day, keep playing hard in practice,” Ellis said. “The execution, intensity and pace have to be there in practice — and in games — for us to continue to play well. The minute we let our effort or execution lapse, we’re going to struggle.”