Boys Basketball: Highland Park tops Maine East for Harris’ 200th win.
BY ERIC BENNETT Contributor January 19, 2012 10:24PM
Highland Park's Ross Chukerman goes strong to the basket in last Thursday's win at Maine East. He finished with 21 points. | Tracy Allen~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:12AM
With a chance to help capture their head coach’s 200th victory, the 1-2 punch of Highland Park High School seniors Jake Norcia and Ross Chukerman played a decisive role in answering the bell.
Norcia disrupted Maine East’s passing lanes all night on Jan. 19, and Chukerman bulldozed his way to a game-high 21 points as the Giants blew past the Blue Demons 64-37.
The game ball, however, belonged to Giants’ head coach Paul Harris.
“It just means I’m getting older,” Harris quipped. “But this is a milestone for this program, for the team — not an individual.”
Harris said that even with a shift in focus because of finals week, he was impressed with his team’s ability to come out firing.
“They came out very sharp,” he said. “Their routine has been altered because of finals, but they came out and responded in a big way.”
Leading the inspired onslaught was Norcia, who got his mitts on numerous Blue Demons’ passes, notching five steals and setting the tone from the onset. The Giants (10-6) came out swinging.
“All week, we have been focusing on defensive drills and anticipating passes,” said Norcia, who finished with 18 points and eight assists. “Our other guys were getting their hands in there, and I was fortunate enough to get in there and scoop them up.”
Harris said it was Norcia’s ability to keep the Blue Demons (4-13) guessing by spreading the floor offensively.
“Jake played a great all-around game,” Harris said. “What he did best was looking to get others involved.”
Chukerman was a chief participant when Norcia looked to push the ball into the paint.
“My team did a great job of finding me so we could bust out the points,” Chukerman said. “We were looking to attack, finding anyone cutting to the basket. When we attack the lane like that, it sets up easy baskets.”
Chukerman wasn’t phased when a few of his shots didn’t fall early on.
“He missed a few inside shots there in the beginning,” he said. “But he didn’t let it affect him, and he was a force down in there.”
Maine East was down 8-0, seemingly before the National Anthem had concluded.
“We lost some of the speed that we showed in our last matchup with Highland Park,” Maine East coach Dave Genis said. “In all facets, we came out flat and more slow … our passes, our thoughts, our movements. There has to be a lot more energy to win against teams like this.”
Harris said in his 13 years of coaching, each season has had its challenges — and auspicious highs.
“It’s been rewarding to see the improvement of all the players over the years,” he said. “It’s been very enjoyable to see players make those strides.”
On the schedule: Highland Park will square off against Niles North in a rematch on Friday (7:30 p.m.), after the Giants prevailed 42-38 on Dec. 9.
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