Boys Basketball: Highland Park to face old rival Deerfield in regional
by mark perlman Contributor February 18, 2012 10:30PM
Highland Park's Danny Dlugie (No. 5) applies pressure to Maine West's Kevin Garcia during Friday's game. | Jerry Daliege~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:15AM
With the boys basketball regular season concluded, the focus is on the Rolling Meadows Regional, as Highland Park will face Deerfield on Feb. 27.
It will be the third meeting between the neighboring rivals, with the Giants holding a 2-0 advantage.
In the first game, on Jan. 6, Highland Park (15-10, 6-4) used a 22-5 run to overwhelm the Warriors (9-14, 4-6), 56-39. As was the case in the second matchup, the Giants were led by their big three. Josh Sterns scored 17 points, Jake Norcia had 15 and Ross Chukerman tallied 12 points and seven rebounds.
The second game at Deerfield, on Feb. 6, was quite a different story. The contest was tight throughout, as neither team enjoyed more than a four-point lead from late in the first quarter on. After Deerfield took a 35-34 lead in overtime, Norcia inbounded the ball to Danny Dlugie, who hit a three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left to give Highland Park a 37-35 victory. Norcia had 11 points, Sterns had 10, and Chukerman contributed four assists and three steals.
“The regular season wins (against Deerfield) don’t really mean anything come Feb. 27,” said Highland Park coach Paul Harris.
Deerfield has showed its mettle, defeating Central Suburban League champion Glenbrook North and playing solid basketball in the final month, including taking Niles North down to the final seconds in the conference finale, before losing 55-51.
Harris knows that this is a Deerfield team with momentum.
“If someone gets a hot hand, catches fire, it will be dangerous,” Harris said. “Mack Watts is playing exceptionally well, and they have other guys who can shoot the three.”
Harris also was quick to point out the interior strength of the Warriors.
“(Michael) Alfieri is a presence inside for them,” Harris said.
The winner of the game will have the unenviable task of facing No. 2 seed St. Viator at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28. But anything is possible. Just take last year’s regional semifinal between Highland Park and Warren. The Giants led into the fourth quarter before succumbing. Warren went on to lose to Simeon in the state championship game.
Recap: Highland Park raced out to a 16-8 first-quarter lead and then held off host Maine West 45-42 on Feb. 17. The Warriors missed a game-tying shot in the final minute and then committed a turnover with three seconds left.
“I was really pleased how we played,” Harris said. “Maine West threw a lot at us and we overcame it.”
Norcia led the Giants with 15 points, including 4-for-7 on three-pointers.
“Jake has been fantastic all year,” Harris said. “We ask him to do a lot. Not only scoring, but taking care of the basketball, getting us in our offense, being a floor leader and helping the team stay calm.”
Chukerman notched 12 points on 6-for-8 field goal shooting, while Sterns also had 12 points, going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Highland Park was set to host Evanston on Tuesday in a CSL crossover game to conclude the regular season.
Notes: After missing a few weeks with a shoulder injury, Justin Deutsch returned to the lineup against Maine West. He led the Giants with three assists, to go along with a co-team-high four rebounds.
“Justin gave us a lift,” Harris said. “It’s good to see him in uniform again. The team loves to play with him. He does so many things well.”
On the schedule: Highland Park will face Deerfield in the opening round of the Rolling Meadows Regional at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27.
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