Four area clubs continue to strive for perfection

Libertyville and Grayslake battle in the post.
(Josh Peckler/News-Sun)

June 19, 2008BY DAVE MASTERSON dmasterson@scn1.com

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GRAYSLAKE -- Four teams remain unbeaten after two weeks and four games in the College of Lake County Boys Summer Basketball League.

North Chicago, Grayslake Central, Zion-Benton's Maroon team and North Lawndale of Chicago are all 4-0, with Zion splitting its roster into two squads.

Five teams went 2-0 on Tuesday, the four aforementioned clubs as well as the team from Waukegan High.

Because the level of competition is so good, the CLC league, with two games being played on adjoining courts simultaneously, is a hoops-junkie's delight.

The best game on Tuesday might have been the matchup between Libertyville and Zion's Maroon team, which featured two returning starters from last year's Class 4A runner-up team -- Lenzelle Smith and Ronald Steward -- plus promising sophomore Owen Worthington. The Bees edged Libertyville 59-56, although Libertyville was playing without its top returning player, 6-foot-6 center Jeremy Letchford, who will not be available for any of the CLC contests.

Post player Julian Hill (6-4) and guard Kevin Johns were also absent.

But despite the split squad and absent players, this was a heated, physical contest from start to finish and came down to a missed 3-point shot by the Wildcats that secured Zion's win.

When Libertyville had its first unit in the game, it built a 25-17 lead. But being summer ball, mass substitutions were the norm, and it took Zion just a couple of minutes to take the lead when Libertyville's second five took the court.

Smith and Steward were outstanding for Zion, while 6-5 Myles Burton hit the boards and scored 14 points for the Cats while teammate John Colao hit three treys in the contest.

Other excellent games included Grayslake Central's 50-44 win over Warren's previously unbeaten Gold team; Waukegan beating the Zion White team 69-61; and North Chicago outrunning a Mundelein Mustangs squad 64-56 in a breakneck-paced contest.

The Tuesday session also saw the debut of newly hired Round Lake High basketball coach Howard Kravets, who was doing some spirited basketball educating from the sidelines.

A couple of well-known Lake County players, Jereme Richmond of Waukegan and Quintrell Love of Zion-Benton, both known for their inside scoring abilities, showcased perimeter games in which each bombed in a number of 3-pointers.

TUESDAY'S RESULTS

• Warren Gold 66, Zion Maroon 56

• Grayslake Central 52, Libertyville 33

• Grayslake Central 50, Warren Gold 44

• Zion Maroon 59, Libertyville 56

• Waukegan 56, Warren Blue 39

• Zion White 79, Lakes 52

• Waukegan 69, Zion White 61

• Warren Blue 59, Lakes 41

• North Chicago 64, Mundelein 56

• North Lawndale 44, Round Lake 19

• North Chicago 51, Round Lake 41