Slow build works for Agee, Bengals
Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin publicly demanded more of Rashaun Agee last season, feeling Agee wasn’t living up to his potential.
The 6-8 senior has since developed into a dominating force. He had 27 points and 15 rebounds to lead the No. 5 Bengals to a 66-62 overtime victory against No. 10 Simeon on Tuesday.
“All he ever needed was the confidence, and he’s playing with it now,” Bogan senior guard Jeremiah Washington said. “Every day, we remind him that he’s the best big in the city. We just need him to keep playing the way he’s been playing.”
Bogan (7-1, 2-1 Red-South/Central) started slow and trailed 26-23 at halftime. It’s widely believed the Bengals’ loud, hot, crowded gym gives them a massive home-court advantage, but it doesn’t always work that way.
“It seems to always be like this when we first get back home,” Goodwin said. “So much excitement, music, banging, and then it just took a little time to figure out what they were doing.”
Simeon (1-4, 1-1) used a box-and-one defense to deny Bogan guard Jordan “Tiger” Booker the ball. Booker scored just eight points but was still there in the clutch, draining four of four free throws in the final 11 seconds of overtime to seal the win.
“We’re so used to Tiger having the ball in his hands, it just made it different,” Agee said. “We have so many talented guards though, and they can all handle pressure.”
Washington, Booker’s backcourt mate, scored 18 points, lighting up the gym with a dunk in the fourth quarter that gave the Bengals a 53-50 advantage.
Before Tuesday, Bogan had briefly played up to its full potential last week against Morgan Park, building a 16-point lead in the third quarter but going on to lose the game.
“That was hard,” Goodwin said. “It’s still on my mind right now because we could be undefeated. But I just want us to keep getting better until the end. I want to get a trophy this year.”
Senior Antonio Reeves led Simeon with 17 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Ahamad Bynum also scored 17 points.
“We’ve been getting better every game,” Wolverines coach Robert Smith said. “I’m just trying to keep these guys positive. They are so young, I don’t want them to get discouraged.”
The Wolverines lost two games at a highprofile national shootout in Arizona last weekend and play at Curie on Thursday.
“I can’t put it all on them,” Smith said. “I have to do a better job scheduling. This wasn’t the best schedule for this group.”
Simeon has an experienced backcourt with Reeves and senior Kejuan Clements. Its weakness was expected to be the bigs, but they played well against Bogan, one of the tallest teams in the state.
Jeremiah Stamps, a 6-7 senior, had nine points and 11 rebounds. Junior Sincere Callwood had six points and 11 rebounds, and 6-8 freshman AJ Casey added seven points and four boards.
“They have been battling all season,” Smith said. “Our guards have to step up and do some other stuff. That’s what it is right now.”