Can??™t blame a family for wanting their kids to grow up there instead of where they were in most cases.
Metamora tied the game with 5 seconds left, but Marian Catholic makes a 3-pointer a the buzzer to win 49-46. Tough luck for Metamora.
There was a controversial call at the end where Metamora made a three pointer that would have won it, but they were only given 2 points. There is no replay in HS basketball, even though all these tournament games are televised and streamed online. Tough luck.
Metamora is predominantly an underclass team, but they could look a lot different next year as I have heard there are multiple players who are considering transferring to prep schools for next year..
A better video of the final seconds of the 2nd overtime in the Metamora-Marian Catholic game last night-
https://twitter.com/MattMcClain3/status/973767447475040256
There was the disputed shot that should have been a 3-pointer, but was called a 2-point shot. The shooter was barely on the college 3-point line, and well behind the high school 3-point line. That would have given Metamora a 1 point lead. Instead the game remained tied 46-46 with 5 seconds left. The final possession lead to Marian Catholic's buzzer-beating three pointer to win the game 49-46.
Metamora had 3 fouls to give on the final possession. I have heard that the coach would have fouled if Metamora had taken the lead (if the previous shot had been ruled a three, which it should have been), but chose to take his chance and not foul with the game tied. Tough way to lose.
I just saw a very cool moment in the 4th quarter of the IHSA class 3A consolation game between North Chicago and Marion Catholic. One of the Marion kids hit the floor and a North Chicago kid tried to help him up, but had the wrong angle so the assist wasn't working. A second North Chicago kid rushed in, grabbed the downed players other hand and both of the North Chicago kids brought him up. Class act. My hat is off to the coach and the kids.
Is anyone else watching any of the IHSA class 3A and 4A games?
Belleville West is playing Elgin Larkin right now. Belleville West's E.J. Liddell is really a nice player. But he is just too good to end up at Bradley. But he is a strong, big kid (listed a 6'7", maybe not quite that big but probably still growing), and a very smart player. He will have many high-major offers before he's done.
In the 3A games this afternoon, the best player was Morgan Park's Ayo Dosunmu, but he is already committed to Illinois. Bradley has reportedly been in recruiting contact with a couple of his Morgan Park teammates- Tamell Pearson and Cam Burrell.
I was not very impressed with Pearson, though he is listed at 6'9" (not that tall) and 230 lbs (nowhere near that heavy). IMO, he needs a prep year or a juco to get stronger and develop his skills. I think Nick Irvin (head coach at Morgan Park and for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program) does a great job of over-hyping and adding height and weight to his kids' bios.
But Cam Burrell reminded me a lot of Donte Thomas when he came out of high school. Burrell is thin, about 6'5" or 6'6", but athletic, and almost always got the ball in the basket if they got it to him. But he is limited to scoring within a foot or two of the basket, and is not a shooter. But I could see him becoming a good mid-major player if he develops his game. I haven't heard that Bradley is recruiting him. His only offer was Chicago State, but now they have fired their coach. He should have more offers.
The only other D1 prospect I was impressed with (other than former Peoria Manual guard Adam Miller of Morgan Park) was Anthony Fairlee of Springfield Southeast. He's a super athletic 6'3" kid who is just a junior. He also doesn't have much of an outside game, but can do everything else. If he develops an outside shot, he'd be a high-major recruit.
In the first Class 4A semifinal tonight, Belleville West leads Elgin Larkin 35-26 at half-
https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActiviti...rmationResults.aspx?url=/data/scores/bkb4.htm
Here were this afternoon's 3A semifinal scores-
https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActiviti...rmationResults.aspx?url=/data/scores/bkb3.htm
Box scores-
3A- https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActiviti...formationResults.aspx?url=/data/bkb/3box1.htm
4A- https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActiviti...formationResults.aspx?url=/data/bkb/4box1.htm
In the Class 3A championship game between Springfield Southeast and Chicago Morgan Park, Morgan Park leads 35-27 at halftime.
Unsigned Morgan park senior Cam Burrell is looking good again. He has 8 points, 6 rebounds, is very active on the floor. Illinois commit Ayo Dosunmu has 14 points for Morgan Park, and Anthony Fairlee has 12 & 6 for Springfield SE.
In the 3rd place game- Chicago Heights Marian Catholic beat North Chicago 58-48