Taylor hot after All- America snub
Lets his frustrations out with career- high 26 points in Cats’ win
Sam Taylor III was an absolute force on the football field last season. He was Thornton’s quarterback and played with poise and confidence, a constant threat to break loose for a touchdown.
That dynamism has transferred to the basketball court. Last season, Taylor was the role player for the Wildcats. Now he’s the quarterback on the court, as well.
“My whole life I was a star except last year, so it is like I’m back to myself,” Taylor said after scoring a career- high 26 points to lead Thornton to a 77- 57 victory against Lincoln- Way Central on Friday in Harvey.
Taylor had a little extra motivation. The list of nominees for the McDonald’s All- American Game was released earlier this week, and he wasn’t on it.
“I kind of felt disrespected,” Taylor said. “I knew I was better than some of the guys on that, so I tried to show up tonight.”
Taylor scored 21 points in the first half. He was 6- for- 9 from three- point range.
“I let him make decisions, he’s a smart guy,” Thornton coach Tai Streets said. “He usually makes the right decision. Sometimes he gets a little trigger- happy. You live with the good and the bad.”
The Wildcats ( 10- 1, 4- 0 Southwest Suburban Red) were hot from three- point range in the first two quarters, going 10- for- 17.
“We knew we had to make shots, and that’s been the strength of our team,” Streets said. “Coming into this season, I didn’t know it was going to be. Those guys work hard. They can shoot the ball once they get rolling.”
Curtis Dilworth had 15 points for Thornton, and Marsalis Tolbert added five points and seven rebounds.
“We had some opportunities there in the third quarter,” LincolnWay Central coach Bob Curran said. “We missed two wide- open layups and a wide- open three. We had our chances to cut it back. But then our offense went stagnant.”
Mikey Koszela led the Knights ( 10- 3, 2- 2) with 18 points and 14 rebounds. The 6- 5 senior was a force in the post. Jarret Gmazel added 11 points, and Mitch Kwasigroch scored nine.
This is the best team Curran has had in his six years at Lincoln- Way Central.
“We’re fighting for that top four seed in the sectional,” Curran said. “This isn’t a bad loss at Thornton. We just need to take care of the games that we can. We’d like to get to a regional championship and win a regional.”
Thornton is off to a hot start in Streets’ first year as coach. The Wildcats won the Big Dipper Holiday Tournament in December, and their only loss was to Springfield Southeast in the season opener.
Streets, a Thornton grad and former NFL wide receiver, created the highly successful Meanstreets club basketball program. Success in the AAU world has transferred to the high school game for Young’s Tyrone Slaughter and Morgan Park’s Nick Irvin. The same is true for Streets.
“I enjoy this more. You get to really plan for teams, and I love doing that,” Streets said. “You can put a game plan in. That’s the difference.”