With a winter storm warning across the state, a number of games were canceled but while it was cold and wintry outside the action at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield was hot as City Conference power Milwaukee Hamilton squared off with St. John's in an excellent early season test for both squads that saw Hamilton post a 64-53 victory behind 22 points from Jr. SF Elgin Cook.
This was a back and forth affair in the first half as the host St. John's took an 11-10 lead after the first period. Jr. G Chris McFarlane hit for 5 points in the opening session to pace St. John's. The 2nd period saw much of the same as both teams continued to exchange leads before Hamilton's trio of juniors Darnell Harris, Charles Lee, and Elgin Cook started to heat up collectively resulting in a 27-25 halftime lead for Hamilton. Cook had 11 at the break while both Lee and Harris had a 6 piece at intermission. On the flip side McFarlane had 12 points at the break for St. John's while So. PG Isaiah Gray went in with 7 points on the come up.
The third quarter saw Hamilton explode out of the box to run their lead to double figures behind some excellent perimeter shooting from Harris who knocked down 3 trey balls in the 3rd session. Despite the hot shooting of Harris, St. John's clawed their way back into the game and closed a 12 point lead to a 43-37 deficit heading into the 4th period. Darnell Harris scored 11 points in the 3rd quarter and had 17 heading into the 4th to pace Hamilton.
The 4th period saw Hamilton extend their lead methodically behind some solid execution and a strong closing period for Elgin Cook who scored 8 4th quarter points to close out the victory. Hamilton knocked down some free throws and continued to make big plays when it mattered most as they wrapped up a 64-53 victory over the upstart St. John's squad.
Elgin Cook finished with 22 points to pace Hamilton while Darnell Harris added a 19 piece on the come up. Isaiah Gay led the way for St. John's with 17 points including 7 in the final period while Jr. F Kevin Mays finished with a 14 point 10 rebound performance. Hamilton is now 2-0 on the young campaign while St. John's record dropped to 1-1 on the year.
In other action...
City Conference power Milwaukee Vincent ran their record to 2-0 on the season with a 55-49 victory over Milwaukee Riverside. Fr. SF Deonte Burton led the way for the Vikings with 13 points. Vincent opened up a 5 point lead after the first period and continued to add to it and held an 11 point lead going into the fourth period before Riverside rallied to close the gap. So. F/C Phillip Nolan chipped in with a 7 piece in the winning effort.
In a Greater Metro showdown between Wauwatosa East and Brookfield Central it was the Red Raiders who outlasted an always tough BC squad 71-64. Tosa East used a strong 2nd and 3rd quarter to gain control of this one. Sr. G Dan Sayles who doubles as a two sport standout (baseball) paced the Red Raiders with 21 while talented So. F Darrell Bowie chipped in with 16 points in a winning effort. Central was was led by Sr. G Alex Diciaula who had 19 points in a losing effort.
Cross-town rivals West Allis Central and West Allis Hale matched up in another Greater Metro affair last night with Central using an 18-6 second period to gain control of this one and post a 64-54 victory. So. F Najeal McMillan dropped a 15 piece for Central to lead the way while promising Fr. PG Jarvis Garrett chipped in with 8 points on the come up.
Brown Deer ran their record to 3-2 on the season as they turned in a 68-47 victory over St. Francis in Woodland Conference action last night. So. F. Jamon Jackson-Wilson led the way for BD with 18 points while talented Jr. PG Joziah Mallet added 12 points on the come up.
Greenfield outlasted Shorewood 67-60 in other Woodland Conference action last night Sr. F/C Alec Molter's 27 points. Shorewood took control early in this one but Greenfield took control with strong 2nd and 3rd periods to take a 13 point lead into the final period. Shorewood lit it up in the final period as they posted 29 points in the 4th quarter but that was not enough as Greenfield was able to hang on for the victory. Talented Fr. lead guard Austin Malone-Mitchell led the way for Shorewood with 14 points in a losing effort.
Franklin used a balanced attack to outlast South Milwaukee 59-55 last night. 4 Sabers scored in double figures led by Jr. F Macon Plewa who finished with 15 points to pace Franklin.
Menomonee Falls used a 15-2 3rd quarter burst to gain control of their Greater Metro showdown with Marquette and turned in a 56-36 victory. So. F J.P. Tokoto paced the Falls with 19 points while Jr. PG Jalen Ramey added a 10 piece on the come up. Jr. F John Kopriva led the Hilltoppers with 8 points in a losing effort.
Quick notes...
Florida International is the latest to take an interest in Hamilton's Jr. PG Charles Lee and Jr. F Darnell Harris. Both have offers on the table from FIU. Alabama has also started to heat up their interest of Harris who's one of the premiere skilled forwards in the 2011 class both regionally and nationally. Both Lee and Harris play with the DTA Devin-Harris Superstars grassroots travel program during the spring/summer.
Marquette Jr. G Mike Fertl suffered a season ending injury one week prior to the season starting and that has been a huge blow so far for the Hilltoppers. Fertl is a skilled instinctive perimeter talent with excellent range. Already looking to fill the huge void left by departing senior Garrett Maloney last year, the Hilltoppers now have to replace another key player with loss of Fertl this year.