IGNITED BY ISAIAH
Green celebrates his 16th birthday with a coming-out party for Hillcrest against Bloom
Sophomore guard Isaiah Green was celebrating his 16th birthday Wednesday night, but he wasn’t too thrilled with how things were going for him on the court for Hillcrest early in the game against Bloom.
“I didn’t really have a good first half like I usually do,” Green said. “Coach (Don Houston) got on me at halftime. I just got myself together mentally and came out better.
“It’s my first varsity season. I’m not going to lie — it’s tough. The defensive pressure is different. The crowd. But I’m going to get through it. I’m learning.”
Green stepped up in a huge way to turn the game around for Hillcrest late in the third quarter, scoring all eight of his points in a 70-second span as the Hawks rallied for a 68-61 victory over Bloom in the Chicago Heights Classic.
Hillcrest (3-0) will play Marian Catholic (3-0) at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the tournament’s championship game.
Bryce Tillery led the Hawks with 21 points and five rebounds, while Marcus Glover added 18 points and seven rebounds.
Kamarion Cobb finished with 13 points and nine rebounds for Bloom (2-1), while Gianni Cobb had 11 points.
The Blazing Trojans led 44-32 with 4 minutes, 15 seconds left in the third quarter before Hillcrest went on an 18-3 roll over the rest of the quarter.
Green hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 47-45 with 1:30 left in the quarter, then drilled another 3-pointer with 50 seconds to go to give Hillcrest its first lead since the first quarter.
Green capped his eight-point run with a layup to send the Hawks into the fourth quarter with a 50-47 lead.
“I learned a lot this game,” Green said. “I have to take my time to turn up. I always work on my 3-pointer, so I’m ready to take the shot.” Houston has been impressed. “He’s carefree,” Houston said of Green. “He’s been playing like that the entire tournament. As long as he’s playing as well as he’s playing, we’ll let him play. He’s doing a great job.”
Glover started Hillcrest’s comeback from inside, scoring 11 points in the third quarter.
“Marcus put in so much work over the offseason,” Houston said. “He’s been lifting weights and really concentrating on what we’re teaching him. Now, he’s really coming into his own as a player.”
Tillery took over in the fourth, scoring 11 points.
Hillcrest also was sparked by a huge dunk from junior forward Matthew Moore, who drove down the lane and hammered the ball home while being fouled to give the Hawks a 54-49 lead with 6:35 to play.
“We had a talk in the locker room and coach Houston got into us,” Tillery said. “We came out and Matt got that big dunk. That took us to another level.
“Coach Houston gives me a lot of confidence. He talks to me every day, telling me to be a leader. It also helps we have other great players around me.”
Tillery scored six straight points to extend Hillcrest’s lead to 61-49.
Bloom fought back to within five twice in the final minute, but Tillery hit 3 of 4 from the freethrow line in the final 33 seconds to seal the win.
The Blazing Trojans, who led 39-28 at halftime, got eight points and seven rebounds from Raeshom Harris and seven points and seven rebounds from Emondrek ErkinsFord.
On Friday, Hillcrest will try to win its first Chicago Heights Classic title since 2010.
“(Assistant coach Jerel McNeal) told us how long it’s been since we’ve won it,” Tillery said. “He sent it in a group chat and said, ‘It’s time.’
“We’re going to try to go out there and get it Friday.”