The boys varsity basketball team took on Grant Community High School on February 13th for what was their conference clinching game. Going into this game, the boys held a 10-3 record in the Northern Lake County Conference (NLCC) in a multi-way tie for first place with Wauconda, Grayslake Central and Antioch. The boys were red hot coming into this game, winning 8 out of their last 9 games and winning 7 straight conference matchups.
This game had a lot on the line for both teams, Grant was hosting their last home game of the season and their winter senior night in a packed home gym. Along with that, they were also
aware of what was on the line for Lakes and wanted to spoil the Eagles back-to-back dreams.
“Before the game I was really nervous. I think that was the most nervous I’ve ever been before a game,” said Prodive Matumona.
The first quarter began and Lakes took an early 6-0 lead in the first 3 minutes and forced Grant to call an early timeout. “In the first possession I set the screen on JJ and JJ got me back with the pass [for the layup] so that made me feel good and the nerves settled,” said Matumona.
A minute later, Lamarr Pierce picked up the first of many charges for Lakes. Following that, it did not take long for Thomas Mercure to pick up the first of his three charges that night after Pierce. The Eagles didn’t look back after that, Grant would not lead for a single second in their final game as the first quarter ended in a score of 10-4.
This would not be the only single digit quarter Lakes will hold grant to. Lakes had a tremendous effort on defense the entire game, Grant only averaged 8.5 points a quarter throughout the entire game.
“I just think we just wanted it more. I mean we started off bad this season and knew we had to turn it around. We practiced really hard, but I think we just wanted it more,” Matumona said. The Eagles drive did not let up, as JJ Jackson hit a pair of three’s, Jimmy Kania hit one of his own and Mercure converted an and-1 layup. The Eagles continued to put on the pressure and as halftime arrived, Lakes led 27-12.
“You know I was really feeling it, I came off that second three with a hand in my face and I hit it. It was big for momentum,” Jackson said.
The third quarter was much of the same. The Eagles proceeded to halt the Bulldogs offense and continued to get their looks through Grant’s defense and full court press, going on a 7-0 run in the back end of the quarter. Lakes now had their biggest lead of the night going into the 4th quarter with a score of 40-20.
In the fourth, Grant attempted to make one last push at the Eagles lead by scoring 14 points this quarter but the Eagles stayed solid and continued to keep the pressure off them by moving the ball and scoring off open looks.
The clock was winding down to the final minute, head Coach Chris Snyder turned to the crowd pumping his hands to fire up the crowd for what was about to be done, a back-to-back conference championship.
“It feels good, I feel like we proved ourselves. We started off bad and we almost lost hope but we got it back together,” Matumona said.
“It was really just a mentality flip. After winter break, we realized this was it for many of us, that there’s no turning back and we locked in and played intensely,” Jackson said. “You know, everybody had their doubts early in the season, but we proved them wrong. It feels good to be the back to back champs.”
