Wildkits keep Titans in check
Evanston senior Lance Jones is one of the area’s best defenders. He’s strong and fast, and most of all, the effort is always there.
The SIU recruit had a big challenge Saturday against Uplift at the Chicago Elite Classic. He led the defensive effort against Markese Jacobs, the area’s top-ranked senior.
‘‘I knew he was an athletic, physical guy,” Jones said. “I wanted to play smart and not reach too much.”
Jacobs scored 33 points in front of his future teammates and coaches at Wintrust Arena, but the No. 2 Wildkits controlled the tempo from the start in an 80-64 victory against the No. 11 Titans.
“You aren’t going to stop Markese,” Evanston coach Mike Ellis said. “He’s a legitimate scorer from any spot on the floor as soon as he crosses half court. It takes five guys on defense to be locked in on him. Our goal was to have 10 eyes on him the entire game. We knew we would give up some easy baskets to other guys, but it is his house, and he is going to be a great addition to the DePaul family.”
Jones had 18 points and six rebounds and senior Ryan Bost had 24 points for Evanston (6-1), which led 41-27 at halftime.
“I’ll admit there has been a little bit of pressure,” Jacobs said. “There is a bull’s-eye. You have to come with it every game.”
Detalian Brown (12 points) was the only other player to reach double-figures for the Titans.
The Wildkits, who are normally an excellent three-point shooting team, were just 5-for-24 from beyond the arc, but they moved the ball well and found other ways to score.
Senior Jaheim Holden had 14 points and four assists. Blake Peters and Isaiah Holden each added eight points. Jaylin Gibson, a strong 6-3 sophomore, had seven points and seven rebounds. He is developing into the post presence Evanston desperately needs.
“Gibson has been more mature than last year,” Jaheim Holden said. “He’s learned to listen to the older guys, and that helps his game, and he’s helping us more than last year.”
Uplift (2-1) also lacks size, so it was a good matchup for the Wildkits.
“We have to find ways now to play against teams that have some size,” Ellis said. “When we can solve that puzzle and keep other teams out of the paint, that is going to show me that there is growth.”
No. 5 Bloom beat West Aurora 64-46 in the other game. It was the first big showcase for the highly regarded Blazing Trojans.
They started flat but dominated the second half on the boards and held West Aurora star Marquise Walker to 0-for-11 shooting. He scored one point.
“That’s my guy, I know how he plays,” Bloom junior Donovan Newby said. “I think our guards played with pride on defense. If we do that it will be hard for any scorer to beat us.”
Dante Maddox Jr. had 15 points and Keshawn Williams added 10. Newby had nine points and 10 rebounds, and big man Martice Mitchell added nine points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
Hezekiah Salter, a 6-2 senior big man, was effective in the post for West Aurora with 14 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Traevon Brown had 14 points and six rebounds.