IT’S BURRESS, NO LESS
Junior guard sparks turnaround as Thornton routs Rich East
Trailing 10-1 and looking out of sync, Thornton needed a calming influence as well as a spark Friday night.
Sean Burress provided both. The 6-foot junior guard ignited a turnaround that allowed the Wildcats to coast to a 73-41 Southland Conference victory over host Rich East.
Burress played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor. He scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half, which saw Thornton (26-1, 13-1) erase the early nine-point deficit in taking a 36-20 halftime lead.
He also made an impact on defense.
“Sean got us going,” Thornton coach Tai Streets said of Burress. “He created havoc and set the tone.”
Senior guard DaMarco Minor scored a team-high 18 points, senior guard Ari Brown added 12 and junior forward Brandon Hall had 11 for the Wildcats.
Rich East (14-12, 6-7) was led by junior guard Gary Clay Jr. with 18 points.
Burress transferred from Thornwood over the summer. Coming in from a rival school could have made the transition a difficult one.
It has been anything but according to Burress.
“It was normal,” Burress said. “I knew a lot of the guys for a long time. I fit right in. They accepted me right away, and Tai has allowed me to play my game.”
Burress’ game is multifaceted. He has the ability to score from the perimeter and off the dribble. He can handle the ball and crash the boards. He also takes great pride in his defense.
That was the missing piece in a talented puzzle.
“He’s meant everything to us,” Minor said of Burress. “He can do so many things out there. He’s a gamer.”
Although Thornton entered the season touting four returning starters, Brown had no doubt Burress would click with the Wildcats.
“He’s like a brother,” Brown said. “He’s been a big help. He’s able to do a lot for us.”
Burress did a lot Friday night. His putback gave Thornton a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the Wildcats never trailed again.
Brown then caught fire in the second quarter, knocking down three of his four 3-pointers.
He gave credit for his success to his teammates.
“I have some of the best, most unselfish teammates,” Brown said. “We weren’t worried with the way we started. We had to pick up the defensive intensity and come together. We knew how the game was going to end.”
It ended the same way the previous two meetings between the teams did — with the Wildcats on top.
Rich East coach Jamere Dismukes, however, found a silver lining in the defeat.
“My guys are learning and sticking together,” he said. “We had only one guy who played significant minutes last year and our schedule has been tough.
“Give credit to Thornton. When you’re that good defensively and you’re making shots, you can always get back into the game.”