Morgan Park unable to capitalize against Simeon

• Reprints

Updated: February 16, 2012 8:21AM

Not every game is going to be a masterpiece, and Simeon’s 57-44 win Friday over Morgan Park certainly wasn’t.

“As bad as we played we got the win,” Simeon coach Robert Smith said. “I understood, looking at the schedule, that this was going to be a tough one and I wanted to try and keep the guys from looking ahead to Findlay Prep.”

The Wolverines (15-0, 5-0 Red South) play Findlay Prep on Monday in Springfield, Mass. Findlay Prep features seven Division I recruits, and is considered Simeon’s toughest opponent this season.

Simeon led by eight at the half Friday and by just six after three quarters, thanks to a jumper at the third-quarter buzzer by Morgan Park’s Billy Garrett Jr.

Simeon opened the fourth with a 14-4 run to seal the win.

“Every time Morgan Park plays the world is against us,” Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said. “We are ready to compete, we are just young. With Simeon you can’t make mistakes, and we missed a few opportunities.”

Steve Taylor led Simeon with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Morgan Park played without 6-foot-9 junior Xzavier Taylor, and his absence was monumental. Simeon outrebounded the Mustangs 38-17. According to Irvin, Taylor has a “messed up knee” and is likely out until the city playoffs.

Garrett Jr. scored a game-high 21 points for the Mustangs (8-5, 4-1).

Josh Cunningham added nine points and Dominique Lee scored six.