In DePaul Prep’s third game of the Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving Tournament on Wednesday evening (Nov 23, 2021), the Rams defeated the Niles North Vikings 62-50 at DePaul Prep’s Tom Winiecki Gym on the old Gordon Tech campus.
The Rams have faced Niles North several times over that past few years in this tournament including a loss in 2017. I have always enjoyed the passion and skill of Niles North coach Glenn Olson. Very few coaches seem more intense during a game. I got some good shots of him during the game.
This was the first real challenge of the season for the Rams. The game opened with characteristic intensity from Niles North which quickly put two fouls on the Rams star center Dylan Arnett. Sophomore forward Jaylon McElroy played much of the first half in Arnett’s place. Jaylon acquitted himself nicely. The Rams took a 33-23 lead into the intermission on the strength of Payton Kamin’s 12 points in the first half.
I have seen many DePaul Prep and Gordon Tech games over Coach Tom Klienschmidt’s tenure as head coach. I don’t remember a time where the Rams have lost after a ten point lead at the half. But this is a team with five new starters and still plenty to prove.
The second half seemed like it took forever because of all the Niles North fouls. Good teams make foul shots and the Rams are a good team. The Rams did what they do. They played solid defense, did not let the Vikings go on any runs and ran after defensive stops. The Vikings could not erase the lead.
Final 62-50.
The Rams advance to face the Notre Dons in the tournament championship of Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Tom Winiecki Gym.
