RECAP: NT 62, ST. VIATOR 48
New Trier’s Spencer Boehm protects the ball against a couple of St. Viator players. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
Where’s Brayboy?
Where’s the 6-foot-9 guy?
Discerning fans soon realized that New Trier was Brayboy-less for its War on the Shore game on Jan. 27 at Loyola Academy.
Meaning: The Trevians were forced to go into battle against a quality St. Viator team without one of their main warriors.
Talk about being conspicuous by an absence.
Ciaran Brayboy’s whereabouts?
“He’s home with the flu,” said New Trier head coach Scott Fricke.
Advantage: Lions?
Not so fast.
After struggling to get things going in the first half, the Trevians (16-3, 5-1) found their stride midway through the third quarter and claimed a 62-48 victory over the Lions (16-5).
“We were out of sorts in the first half,” said NT power forward Spencer Boehm.
The Lions went on a 17-4 run in the second quarter to take a five-point lead, 30-25, into intermission.
“We were leaving their good shooters open and tightly guarding their non-shooters,” lamented Fricke.
“I challenged them pretty good at halftime,” he added.
As it turned out, the Trevians, who extended their win streak to six games, could do very little wrong at times in the second half. They went on a 7-0 run to close out the third quarter. Later, they capped the game with an 11-0 run.
Fricke couldn’t have been any happier with his team’s stretch drive.
“For us to respond like that without Brayboy … ,” said Fricke.
“We had to find eight rebounds, 15 points and three blocks from somewhere,” Boehm said.
The 6-8 junior, who missed two games with the flu earlier this month, definitely did his job. Boehm arguably played his best basketball of the season, tallying seven of his 11 points in the fourth frame. He also pulled down five rebounds.
“I’m working my way back,” said Boehm. “It was tough.
“We’ve had a lot of sickness on this team,” he added. “We just have to get over the hump.”
The Trevians are benefitting from the sudden emergence of Sam Silverstein (11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists). Starting for Brayboy, the 6-4 junior wing scored eight points in the final six-plus minutes of the game. He put his team ahead 47-40 with his own personal 6-0 run: connecting on a three-pointer from the corner and then converting a three-point play in back-to-back possessions.
New Trier also received solid performances from its other three starters: Griffin Ryan (10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Brian Conaghan (12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) and Andrew Kirkpatrick (6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals).
But don’t forget about NT’s bench play.
Fricke wasn’t about to.
“I thought they were key,” said the NT coach. “With all of our sickness, we needed that from them.”
The trio of Noah Osher, Matthew Samuelson and Matt Mosher formed a pretty good “trey-fecta”. Osher (6 points, 3 assists) and Samuelson (6 points) hit two three-pointers each, while Mosher drilled a three from the left corner in the second period.
“They gave us some great sequences,” said Fricke.
NT’s Game Balls: Spencer Boehm (Jr., F), Sam Silverstein (Jr., G), Griffin Ryan (Sr., F)
St. Viator’s Game Ball: Treyvon Calvin (Jr., G)
Player of the Game: Boehm
NT’s Unsung Heroes: Noah Osher, Matthew Samuelson, Matt Mosher
NT’s Stat Leaders
— Boehm (11 points, 5 rebounds)
— Silverstein (11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists)
— Ryan (10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists)
— Brian Conaghan (12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)
— Andrew Kirkpatrick (2 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals)
— Osher (6 points, 3 assists)
— Samuelson (6 points)
St. Viator’s Stat Leaders
— Calvin (20 points)
— Jeremiah Hernandez (6 points)
— Peter Lambesis (6 points)
— Connor Kochera (6 points)
NT’s Griffin Ryan puts up a shot despite having a hand literally in his face. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
Brian Conaghan of the Trevians draws a double team before taking a shot against St. Viator. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (No. 20) pulls down a rebound against St. Viator’s Jeremiah Hernandez. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
While falling to the floor at the end of the third, NT’s Noah Oster punches a pass to teammate Matthew Samuelson. Just as the horn sounded, Samuelson nailed a three-pointer from the right corner. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
Matthew Samuelson of the Trevians fires up a shot. He made two three-pointers in the contest. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
Spencer Boehm of the Trevians battles for a bucket. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER