http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,4878720.storyBoys basketball | Proviso West tourney: Glenbrook North's Dragicevich does a number on T.F. North
By Mike Helfgot Special to the Tribune
December 27, 2009
No. 21 outscored Thornton Fractional North in the first half, dominating the action but misfiring on six of his nine foul shots.
No. 34 didn't have as much of an overall impact, but his free-throw shooting was every bit as vital to the outcome.
Alex Dragicevich wore both numbers Saturday for No. 3 Glenbrook North, scoring 31 points and grabbing eight rebounds as the Spartans remained undefeated with a 55-48 victory over T.F. North in the first round of the Proviso West tournament in Hillside.
Dragicevich, a 6-foot-6 guard headed to Notre Dame, outscored T.F. North 16-12 in the first half and made 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter after switching numbers because of blood on the back of his jersey.
"I had to put those free throws out of my mind," said Dragicevich, an 80 percent free-throw shooter this season. "I was like, 'I'm a good shooter, I need to knock these down for us to win.' "
Dragicevich scored his team's first 13 points before a 3-pointer by Austin Weber (11 points) gave Glenbrook North (10-0) a 16-7 edge. .
T.F. North (5-3) picked up its defensive pressure to claw back in the second half. Montero Rice scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half for the Meteors, who were still alive when Sean Montgomery cut their deficit to 53-48 with just under a minute to play.
"I had to come out and show my guys that I'm confident and that we can beat those guys," Dragicevich said. "We don't see teams like that all the time. At this tournament, they tend to let a lot of stuff go. You get to see who's tough."
Player of the game: Alex Dragicevich, Glenbrook North, 31 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks.
Key performers: T.F. North -- Montero Rice, 19 points, 5 rebounds. Glenbrook North -- Peter Szostak, 5 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks.
Interesting video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lw4QPg8L3M
http://wcssaasports.com/Monday, January 4, 2010
BASKETBALL: Cvrkalj for MVP?
Cool video highlighting Stefan Cvrkalj's season thusfar with Bluevale and his club team. (Check out another angle of the tournament play of 2009: Heinbuch Classic game-equalizer vs. London Beal at the 1:30 mark.)
Hard to dispute the argument that Knights' senior guard Cvrkalj has been, one of, if not the best player in WCSSAA so far this season.
Sure the flipside argument can be made for Cameron Heights' Stefan Arezina, who outscored Cvrkalj in their league game but Knight fan is quick to point out he did more to earn his team the win.
So yes, in my opinion, the most valuable player so far would go to the Knights' sensational fourth year player who's getting plenty of CIS and NCAA attention this season.
But what do we care about? A WCSSAA team championship and playing beyond. How will "CJ" be remembered in this league? The next nine weeks could decide that.
The serbian 1992 generation in Canada is really great. Nastic, Cvrkalj and Arezina are improving very well. Don't know yet who will coach serbian U18 national team next summer but I wish he will keep an eye on them.
Bluevale Collegiate, Waterloo:
Last year, the Knights finished 2nd in WCSSAA with a 10-2 record. They were both semi-finalists in league
playoffs as well as CWOSSA. With many returnees, the Knights are on a mission to be one of the best
teams in the Province and so far, they are! They are a perfect 4 and 0 in league play and were semi-finalists
at the prestigious Court Heinbuch Tournament in November. They were also champions of the Joe Raso
Flight Division at the Silver Fox Tournament. Bluevale is led by 6’6” centre Andrew Beney and 6’4” point
guard Stefan Cvrkalj. Cvrkalj is regarded as one the top players in the province and is getting interests from
NCAA Division 1 schools such as Auburn and Cornell. These two standouts are surrounded by a very strong
supporting cast who can beat you on any given night. Look for the Knights to fight their way into this year’s
final.
http://www.thehoop-la.com/news/22nd-...t-jan-8/9.html
http://www.cwossabasketball.com/On the senior side, in the game that I attended in Waterloo, Stefan Cvrkalj had 39 big points for Bluevale in their 65-34 win over WCI.
Another big game yesterday night.
In USA, serbian youngster Milos Kostic (1994) is also doing very well. His team is still unbeaten.
Bishop Noll 47, Indianapolis Chatard 45
BISHOP NOLL (11-13-12-11)
Kendall Coleman 16, Kevin Mullaney 8, Ronnye Beamon Jr. 7, Milos Kostic 12, Jose Rosario 0, Raymonte Tucker 0, Khalid Muhammad 2, Michael Sanchez 2. Totals -- 16 10-14 47.
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (11-8-9-17)
Kenny LaRose 5, Jake Miller 0, Taylor Wayer 16, Ryan Kleinschmidt 0, Ted Guzek 3, Ed Dietrick 5, Nick Martin 11, Calvin White 2, Andrew Tegarden 3. Totals -- 16 7-9 45.
3-pointers: Mullaney 2, Kostic 2, Beamon (BN); Wayer 4, Guzek, Tegarden (IC). Team fouls: Bishop Noll 7; Chatard 15. Fouled out: None. Records: Bishop Noll 8-0; Chatard 4-2. JV: Chatard won.
THE RECRUITING TRAIL
Thornhill centre Stefan Nastic is currently the best senior prospect in Canada. The 6'11" Nastic is getting bigger, stronger and has a great feel for the game. At the Xavier RimRocker, he drew scouts from Georgetown, Marquette, U Cal Berkeley and Northwestern. Nastic is a superb student and can pretty much choose any high-major program he wants come next spring.
Oakville's Abbey Park centre Chris McLaughlin 6'9" is drawing attention from schools all over Canada with his sweet shooting touch and strong athletic ability. University of Victoria, U.B.C., Windsor, Western, Ottawa and McMaster have all taken note of his strong performance in league play including a 41-point outburst against Bishop Reding. McLaughlin is intrigued by playing university ball in the Vancouver area but OUA schools are working hard to keep him home come next year.
Sarnia St. Christopher's swingman Joe Rocca 6'3" has exploded on the provincial scene this year with several 30-point plus performances. Rocca is strong and aggressive and is a handfull for any high school defender to contend with. He is a good student and could come out this year. Windsor and Western are heavily involved and he is the best prospect to come out of Sarnia since Andy Wedemire led St. Pat's H.S. to an OFSAA title in 2005.
Stefan Cikvalj, a 6'4" swingman from Bluevale C.I. in Waterloo is the best senior prospect in CWOSSA this year. Stefan is a 90% plus student and a superb scorer. He has interest from several Ivy League schools.
The University of Western Mustangs are hoping to raid the Hamilton public school ranks this year and are heavily involved with Stoney Creek, Orchard Park H.S. forwards Taylor Black 6'7" and Satar Wahidi 6'6" as well as Bishop Ryan forward Cody Mazza 6'5" and Parkside guard Quinn Henderson 6'3". There is very little senior talent in the London area this year and the Mustangs have to go outside their traditional recruiting areas to find the talent they need.
http://www.thehoop-la.com/news/the-t...-06.01.10.html