Amateur Sports News Network

:: Welcome to Amateur Sports' coverage in the Chicagoland Area ::

SPORTS

Weather in

Chicago area

<a href="http://www.superpages.com/cities/weatherforecast.html"><img src="http://img.superpages.com/cities/weathericons/console.gif" border=0 alt="SuperPages.com Weather for Chicago IL"><br>Weather Forecasts</a>

MEDIA

PODCAST

Article Manager

Amateur Sports
subsidiary of S.C. Fitch Enterprises, Inc.
4710 Lincoln Hwy, Suite 350
Matteson, IL 60443
708.201.1781 voice
708.231.8266 fax

You can also catch us at:
just click at icon below

Powered by

Click Here

Young wins it all...

PEORIA - This was a break out weekend for senior Marcus Jordan... a weekend that he's been pursuing for most of his life, getting out of the shadow of his world famous dad, his royal airness, Michael Jordan, or at least temporary. And on this weekend in Peoria, he did just that capturing a 69-66 win over Waukegan in the Class 4A championship game. Right off a game, where he had the game-high of 22, he repeated this effort again with a game-high score of 19 and knocked down 4 shots from the charity stripe in the last seconds of the game which

sealed the win. “I can’t even tell you what this feels like,” Jordan said. “It’s just amazing. This is better than any dream I’ve ever had.”

Young opened the game with a 28-11 run, utilizing size and leaping ability which caught Waukegan off-balanced defensively. Jordan drained two three-pointers and scored eight during the run. The Dolphins blocked four shots in the first half and forced the Bulldogs to drastically alter nearly a dozen shots.

Waukegan (26-5) clawed back into the game with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to seven at the half. The Bulldogs tied the game with 6:52 remaining on three free throws from sophomore Aaron Johnson.

Down the stretch, two key free throws from Mike Springs made it 60-58 Young with 2:02 to play. Then right after that, Dolphins senior Chris Colvin exploded through the lane for a basket to put Young ahead by four. On their very next possession, sophomore sensation Sam Thompson drove the baseline and drew a foul by Illinois recruit Jereme Richmond (17 points). Thompson made the free throw giving the dolphins a seven-point cushion. Senior guard Colin Nickerson wasn't ready to surrender hitting two late three-pointers for Waukegan. Nickerson finished with 14 points.

Coming down the stretch Yong lost two of the primary defenders, each fouling out midway through the fourth quarter, Stan Brown and Franklin Griffin. “We just had in mind that we had to battle today,” Brown said. “I wasn’t going to let my team down. I wasn’t coming off the floor unless I gave it everything I had.” Brown finished the contest with 14 points.

Anthony Johnson stepped up and guarded Richmond when his two teammates were gone. “I just knew I had to play hard with two guys fouled out,” Johnson said. “It’s the last high school game for all the seniors and nothing mattered more than going out with a win."

“Of course I’m disappointed that we lost, but you can’t fault our effort,” junior, Illinois recruit Richmond said. “Everyone gave it all they could. We just lost to a great team and after last year what more could you ask for.”

Colvin, Richmond, & Jordan sharing
a light moment during the game

When we spoke to the coach and asked him his thoughts on the victory, the first thing out of his mouth was 'Marcus!' "Marcus played his heart out for us and took control when he needed to and kept his teammates in the game," said coach Tyrone Slaughter.

As Marcus Jordan and his teammates celebrated on the court after the final buzzer, Michael Jordan stood quietly, clapping his hands with tears in his eyes. "Crying?" the NBA great said in response to a reporter's question. "I'm not crying. Not for me, anyway."

The Dolphins traveled one the toughest road to the state title of any team in the field. They defeated six ranked teams on the way to the title: Fenwick, Morton, De La Salle, Hyde Park, Thornton and Waukegan.

Young finishes the season with a 26-9 record, the most losses by a state champion since Decatur’s 24-11 record in 1936. But Young’s season was nothing like Decatur’s. Because of Jordan’s famous name and his equally talented teammates, Young was invited all over the country, playing games in seven states.

If you all remember, NBA player Quentin Richardson led Young to its first state title in 1998. The Public League has won five boys basketball state titles in the last five seasons.

NOTE: We are proud to announce that for the entire month of February, S.C. Fitch Enterprises, and all of its affiliates including Amateur Sports News Network, ASNN365.com, and Amateur Sports Gallery will be honoring March as National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Click here for more information.

Any pictures taking at the game can be found in our photo gallery - click here!

Here is your opportunity to stop hating the media and actually become it!

We are always looking for additional personnel. Click here if you are interested. If you would like to submit a story, score, stats, or even photos, click here.