Derail deal? Not for focused Lions
Leo’s early-season coaching controversy doesn’t appear to have thrown the team off course one bit.
The Lions knocked off Bloomington, one of the state’s best Class 4A teams, 65-64 in the Team Rose Shootout on Sunday at Mount Carmel.
“It just shows how strong our team is,” Leo guard Fred Cleveland said. “Ever since Coach came in, we’ve been working real hard.”
Leo grad Jamal Thompson replaced Shawn Frison as coach on Nov. 28 after assistant coach Fred Cleveland Sr. accused Frison of punching him.
“When all the stuff was going on, every day we just told each other to stay together as a team and don’t let the outside stuff determine how the rest of our season will go,” Cleveland Jr. said.
Cleveland had 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. DaChaun Anderson, a 6-8 senior, scored the game-winner with two seconds to play on an assist from Kendale, his younger brother.
“Coming back to the school I grew up at is a dream come true,” Thompson said. “I want the best for this group of guys. They welcomed me in with open arms.”
Matched up against SIU recruit Chris Payton, one of the state’s most athletic players, DaChaun Anderson finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
“It was very challenging,’’ Anderson said. “I wanted to show him I could keep up with him. He’s a great player.”
Super 25 additions
St. Laurence: Junior Jeremiah Williams showed flashes of promise last season but is quickly developing into a consistent force. The Vikings won their way into the rankings with wins against Notre Dame, Providence-St. Mel and St. Rita this past week.
Lane: The Indians returned to the Red Division this season, and they didn’t take long to make a rankings debut. Senior Jimmy Mulvaney helped lead them to wins against Uplift and North Lawndale.
Romeoville: The last six games between the Spartans and Joliet Central have gone to overtime. Romeoville already has beaten the Steelmen twice in overtime this season. Mike Salter, Destin Whitaker and big man Noah Ferrell have the team off to an undefeated start. The Spartans visit Bolingbrook on Wednesday in
what will be a major test.
Dropping out
Brother Rice: Loyola recruit Marquise Kennedy was fantastic at the Team Rose Shootout on Saturday. He scored 36 points and had an impact on both ends of the floor in a loss to Uplift. The Crusaders also lost to St. Rita and Providence-St. Mel this week.
Farragut: A mixed bag this week for the Admirals, who lost to Young and Orr but beat Riverside-Brookfield. Several freshmen and sophomores are playing well for coach William Nelson, so they could be back in the rankings soon.
Riverside-Brookfield: The Bulldogs were ice-cold from three-point range in the loss to Farragut, their first of the season.
The week ahead
Simeon picked up two losses at a high-profile shootout in Arizona this weekend. The Wolverines travel to Bogan on Tuesday.
♦ Curie invades Morgan Park’s tiny gym on Tuesday. The Mustangs had a passion-filled week with a tight win against Bogan and a close loss to Bloom. The winner of this game will make a strong claim to the No. 3 ranking.
♦ Waukegan seems to be living up to the hype. The Bulldogs have a chance to prove it on Saturday in Chicago Heights against Marian Catholic and Ahron Ulis.