Wildcats overpower Meteors
Keeshawn Chambers’ double-double powers Thornton past T.F. North in Bob Hambric Shootout
When Keeshawn Chambers is a force in the lane, Thornton is capable of dominating opponents.
T.F. North found that out Saturday at the Bob Hambric Shootout in Calumet City.
Chambers, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead Thornton to an 81-57 victory.
Chambers posted the doubledouble in spite of sitting out the second quarter with foul trouble.
He said he has a lot to prove each time he steps on the court.
“I owe my success to a lot of people,” Chambers said. “I want to make them proud.”
A pair of junior guards, Ari Brown and Demarco Minor, scored 21 and 17 points, respectively, for the Wildcats (11-6).
Sophomore forward Darryl Reed led T.F. North (10-5) with 24 points and senior guard CJ Gilbert added 11.
Chambers didn’t waste any time, using an array of post moves to score 11 points in the first quarter.
“If I don’t get off to a fast start, it throws everything off,” he said. “So it’s important that I bring the energy and scoring.”
With Chambers dominating inside, T.F. North was forced to alter its defense. That opened up space for Thornton’s perimeter game to flourish.
No one took advantage of that space more than Brown, who hit five 3-pointers, including four in the second half.
“My teammates got me going in the locker room,” Brown said. “They told me I had to start making shots and I did.”
Chambers, Brown and Minor accounted for all 21 of the Wildcats points in the third quarter.
With Thornton up 63-48 entering the fourth, Brown hit a three and a short jumper to extend the lead to 20.
Thornton coach Tai Streets said when his team flashes a powerful inside/outside game like it did Saturday, it’s tough to beat. And it all starts with Chambers. “When Keeshawn is active and finishes like he was (Saturday), he’s huge,” Streets said. “We have guys who can really shoot the ball. But if we want to make any type of run and beat good teams, Keeshawn has to be huge like that.”
However, the highlight of the night arrived in the second quarter, compliments of Thornton sophomore Brandon Hall.
The 6-4 guard brought the crowd to its feet by way of a
one-handed tomahawk dunk in the lane.
Even Chambers, who threw down multiple dunks, was impressed.
“That was something,” he said.
T.F. North trailed by three in the second quarter before fading in the second half. Much of that had to do with youth, as coach Tim Bankston started four sophomores.
“Their physicality gave us some problems,” Bankston said. “We’ll take our lumps. But I know how good we’re going to be.”