Sussex Hamilton star Baldwin injured in win
MENOMONEE FALLS – The Ewing Theory was put to the test Friday night.
The theory, which suggests a team reaches new heights immediately following the departure of a star player, was in play for Sussex Hamilton as forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. exited the game with a dislocated ankle in the second half.
The Chargers were trailing, 55-52, with just under six minutes to play in the second half when Baldwin went down following a drive to the basket.
“As soon as I saw him go down, I turned around and took a knee,” Hamilton center Nolan Rieder said. “It's the last thing I wanted to see, especially such a good guy. That's just tough to see.”
The injury may have thrown a wrench in Hamilton's season, but the Chargers rallied to defeat Menomonee Falls, 70-63.
The Chargers outscored the Phoenix, 18-8, over the final five minutes to move to 1-1 following a loss to Wauwatosa East on Tuesday.
Guard Tanner Resch was assertive throughout the game, finishing with a team-high 20 points.
Rieder and guard Luther Smith Jr., role players regularly, were particularly impressive in Baldwin's absence.
Rieder scored 10 second-half points, including four free throws down the stretch, and came up big defensively with a pair of blocks. Smith also had 10 second-half points for a total of 14, including a three-point play to take the lead with just under three minutes to play.
“I feel like I definitely played my best down the stretch,” Rieder said. “The rebounds, the blocks, the free throws. I couldn't have done it without my guys and it was definitely some of my best basketball.”
The Chargers had to rally emotionally after seeing the reigning Gatorade state Player of the Year leave the game, as well.
“That's a tribute to Patrick,” head coach Andy Cerroni said. “They're winning it for their brother. They know he's dying because he's not able to be out there with them and that's how they responded. It's tough to get back up after seeing something like that, so I'm proud of them.”
Bridges debuts
Brookfield East freshman guard Tayshawn Bridges scored 37 points in his debut as the Spartans downed Wauwatosa West, 95-67, Friday.
Bridges is a highly-touted recruit already holding offers from Auburn and Florida State, among others.
Top 10 upsets
The area's top 10 rankings are already set to undergo some change.
First, No. 3 Sussex Hamilton lost to Wauwatosa East on Tuesday. That same night, No. 6 Arrowhead fell against Muskego.
Friday night, No. 8 Brown Deer was upset in a Woodland East battle by South Milwaukee, 47-42.
St. Catherine's impresses
The state's top-ranked team in Division 3, Racine St. Catherine's, didn't lose all of last season and it continued that streak Friday.
The Angels, who were undefeated when last season ended before the sectional finals due to the coronavirus pandemic, downed East Troy, 79-55.
Senior guard and Iowa State recruit Tyrese Hunter erupted for 33 points on 14-for-20 shooting with seven rebounds, four steals and two assists. Kamari McGee, who is headed to UWGreen Bay, added 13 points.
St. Catherine's is not scheduled to play at home until Dec. 22, with six more road games to go before then.
Along the North Shore
One of the stories to follow in the first week was how Nicolet would look without forward James Graham, who announced last week he was enrolling early at Maryland and forgoing his senior season.
The cupboard was left far from empty at Nicolet, though.
Point guard Kobe Johnson is a Southern California recruit and one of the state's top players on both sides of the ball. The Knights also returned Darrius Bolden, Jeremy Kobe and Donovan Sparks, all contributors on last year's conference champion team.
They faced an immediate test Tuesday against another North Shore contender, Whitefish Bay. Nicolet passed, winning, 51-49, with Johnson scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds despite facing a box-and-one the whole night. Bolden also had 17 points.
Johnson then posted a triple-double in a 74-53 defeat of Hartford on Thursday.
It's early, but so far Nicolet has the look of a team not willing to give up the conference crown yet.