RECAP: EVANSTON 60, GBS 58
GBS’s Dominic Martinelli drives against Evanston’s Lance Jones. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
While walking out of his team’s post-game meeting, in the bottom level of the Titan Dome, Dominic Martinelli had his head tucked under a hooded blue sweatshirt.
The Glenbrook South sophomore forward was not easily identifiable.
Earlier in the night that was not the case.
The young Martinelli — brother of ex-GBS standout Jimmy Martinelli, now playing hoops at a high level for New York University — was easily recognized as one of GBS’s go-to guys in the team’s disheartening 60-58 overtime loss to visiting Evanston on Jan. 19.
The game was highly entertaining.
And so was the Martinelli’s performance.
The sophomore was a driving force — literally, a driving force — for the Titans (6-11, 0-6), who were desperately trying to pull off a major upset against the Wildkits.
Martinelli turned into a Maserati.
And the newly named Martinelli Lane was open for business. On this night, it was not a road less traveled.
The 6-foot-2 Martinelli, a left-hander, consistently drove the lane and ended up leading all scorers with 19 points.
“Coach [Phil Ralston] told us to keep attacking. Keep taking it to them because [Evanston] is not a real good help-defense team,” said Martinelli.
“I especially like the left lane,” he added.
Ralston raved about his team’s shot selection and offensive decisions. The Titans were getting high-percentage shots on most occasions.
The highly athletic Wildkits, who improved to 5-1 in the CSL South and 14-3 overall, are not an easy team to go up against.
“Evanston does such a great job of guarding the perimeter,” said Ralston.
Thus, taking the ball aggressively to the basket — the way Martinelli did — was a sound game plan.
“It’s a way to make them pay,” said Ralston.
GBS’s play in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter was darn near flawless. Trailing by six points, 41-35, with 7:31 left, the Titans went on to outscore the Kits 16-10 to force the extra session. In that seven-plus minute span, they missed only two field goals and committed just one turnover.
Martinelli, who had seven points in the final frame, forced overtime by hitting the second end of a two-shot foul with 6.7 seconds remaining.
But, in overtime, Evanston’s Lance Jones (16 points), Blake Peters (16 points) and Jaheim Holden (14 points) hit key shots — and free throws — to decide the game.
“We’re playing at a extremely high level right now,” said Ralston. “But we still haven’t figured out how to close out games. Still learning how to do that.
“Our effort tonight deserved a better outcome,” he added.
Martinelli felt the same way.
“I thought we played them tough tonight,” he said. “We’re playing everyone close. We never get down. We don’t get too low or too high.
“We just have to keep battling. Keep fighting,” added Martinelli.
Ralston admitted that he was not in a good mood after this heart-breaking loss. The Titans are on the cusp, considering that they have beaten quality opponents like St. Viator, Warren and Geneva while losing cliffhangers to top-flight teams like New Trier (by one point) and Waukegan (by two points) during the past month.
“You can put this on record: there will be a breakthrough with us,” said Ralston. “It’s coming. And it’s going to come like a tidal wave.”
GBS’s Game Balls: Dominic Martinelli (So., F), Gavin Morse (Jr., G)
Evanston’s Game Balls: Lance Jones (Jr., G), Blake Peters (Fr., G)
Player of the Game: Jones
GBS’s Unsung Hero: Jimmy McMahon
GBS Stat Leaders
— Martinelli (19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)
— McMahon (11 points, 2 rebounds)
— Morse (10 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists)
— Mac Hubbard (8 points, 2 rebounds)
— Will King (5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists)
— Stefon Boyd (4 points)
Evanston Stat Leaders
— Jones (16 points)
— Peters (16 points)
— Jaheim Holden (14 points)
Notable: GBS junior Mac Hubbard hit one of the bigger shots of the game. With 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter, he drilled a three-pointer from the left wing on a feed from Will King. And the home crowd went nuts. … Another key play for GBS in the fourth quarter was a perfectly played backdoor basket by Jimmy MaMahon on a pass from Dominic Martinelli at the 2:35 mark. … Also, in that fourth quarter, Martinelli converted two three-point plays. … McMahon continues to shoot well from the outside. He hit a pair of three-pointers in the opening quarter. He also nailed a trey earlier in the third quarter. … Ex-GBS star Jimmy McMahon is averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his second season with NYU.
Dominick Martinelli of the Titans puts up a shot inside. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
GBS’s Stevon Boyd (right) tries to slap the ball away from Evanston’s Lance Jones. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Jimmy McMahon of the Titans dribbled against Evanston’s Ryan Bost. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
GBS’s Gavin Morse puts up a shot against Evanston’s Jaylin Gibson. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Will King of the Titans drives against Evanston’s Blake Peters. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Mac Hubbard of the Titans looks to make something happen. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Glenbrook South’s Joe Shapiro defends Evanston’s Ryan Bost. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER