The Ridgewood shootout featured top teams and top players: No. 1 Glenbard West, No. 5 Glenbrook South, No. 19 Yorkville Christian, Branden Huff, Caden Peirce, Nick Martinelli, Bobby Durkin, Paxton Warden, Jade Schutt and Timaris Brown.
This shootout did not disappoint. The marquee matchup between Glenbard West and Glenbrook South was one of the most well played games that I have seen in a long time. The teams moved the ball well, shot well and hit free throws. I was at the Chicago Elite Classic on Friday and Saturday and I was struck how poorly everyone was shooting. I suspect it was because it was in an arena venue as opposed to a gym setting. The first quarters tended to be brutal but the teams settled into more normal play.
I saw Glenbard West at the Riverside-Brookfield summer event. They impressed as one might imagine. The summer events are interesting and informative but not like a real game. This game against Glenbrook South was a real game.
Glenbard West’s full-court trap was something to watch. It was passing the ball through a forest of moving and attacking trees. The sheer size of the Hilltoppers was daunting.
Nevertheless, Glenbrook South managed it and got the ball up court without many turnovers. But I was exhausted just watching. The Titans then had to try to score.
Despite Glenbard West having a comfortable lead most of the game, the Titans pulled within three within three points at the very end on the strength of three-point shooting by Cooper Noard and inside points by Nick Martinelli.
With five seconds left, the Titans got off two three pointers but missed both.
Very entertaining. I will have to get out to see both of these teams a couple times more this season.
