Boys Basketball: Simeon tops Marist
By Patrick Z. McGavin For Sun-Times Media March 1, 2013 9:54PM
Updated: April 4, 2013 6:39AM
Marist may have been good enough to meet three-time defending Class 4A state champion Simeon in the state tournament in consecutive years. Unfortunately, the RedHawks have gotten a firsthand look at the Wolverines’ greatness.
Marist suffered through a 15-minute field-goal drought Friday night and saw the Wolverines rip off a 31-2 run as Simeon rolled to a 66-31 victory in the Class 4A Mount Carmel Regional title game.
L.J. McIntosh, ending his storied career as the school’s leading scorer, had 12 points for the RedHawks (18-11). Marist shot just 2-of-17 and missed its final 12 shots of the first half as Simeon (25-3) ran out to a commanding 30-7 lead at the break.
Simeon All-American Jabari Parker scored eight of his game-high 17 points in the second quarter. He added eight rebounds and three assists. Jaylon Tate added 11 points and Kendrick Nunn nine.
Marist led 3-2 midway through the first quarter.
“We had nine possessions in the first quarter and I thought we’d need to have 35 possessions to win the game,” Marist coach Gene Nolan said. “The problem is once you start to miss and get down, you have to speed up the game and that played to Simeon’s style.”
McIntosh hit three three-pointers in the fourth quarter to make the game more respectable. Lexus Wiliams contributed six points and Zak Niemiera added five for Marist. Simeon beat Marist in the sectional final last year.
Patrick Z. McGavin
