Both Glenbard West and Young started the year ranked first and second, respectively, in the Super 25. The Hilltoppers have remained undefeated throughout their entire schedule, living up to the early hype that was surrounding them.
The Dolphins have had to deal with the ups and downs that come with playing a national schedule, including dealing with injuries. Fans of high school basketball in the surrounding area have been marking their calendars for weeks in anticipation of the matchup that will take place on Saturday between the teams competing in the When Sides Collide Shootout at Benet.
The Glenbard West supporters were rowdy and boisterous, and they took control of the packed gymnasium in a manner not dissimilar to how their star player, Gonzaga recruit Braden Huff, took control of the game.
“We were really excited for this one,” Huff said. “We were really excited for this one.” “Whitney Young is an outstanding group. They have in the past been nothing short of an incredible program. I’m always looking for my shot, but at the same time, I’m trying to find that balance and make the most of what the defense gives me.
The top-ranked Hilltoppers defeated the sixth-ranked Young Hilltoppers by a score of 74-59, led by Huff’s 31 points and seven rebounds.
Glenbard West hasn’t earned much respect on a national level, as evidenced by the fact that it consistently places fourth or fifth in the rankings, behind Kenwood, Simeon, and Young. This is the typical pattern that unfolds whenever a new school appears on the scene. When it comes to the national scene, brand names are everything.
Huff stated, “I don’t think there was necessarily a chip on our shoulder,” referring to the team’s attitude. “We simply were really looking forward to playing them. The fact that we only played conference teams the year before meant that we never really got to see how good we were. This year, therefore, we are not going to take it for granted.
Huff was the main attraction, as he completely dominated a team that had two big men who played in Division 1. The atmosphere was incredible. In the opening period of the game, he established the tone with 10 points scored.
“[Huff] has been working on his positioning and his footwork throughout the summer and into this year,” said Jason Opoka, the coach for Glenbard West. “[Huff] has been a big part of our success.” “Today presented a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate that on a significant platform.”
The Hilltoppers, who were undefeated, had a lead of 28-13 halfway through the second quarter and 11 points after three quarters. They started the fourth quarter on a run that would put the game out of reach, going on a 10-2 run.
Cade Pierce, a senior at Glenbard West, said that there were some people who had doubts about the school’s ability to compete with the best teams in the state. “Beating a team of this caliber really demonstrates that we can compete with anyone,” said the victor.
Pierce’s level of aggression was comparable to that of Huff’s. A high-major college basketball player would be proud of the dunk that the 6-foot-6 Princeton recruit threw down in the fourth quarter of the game. He finished with 25 points and shot perfectly from the field, making all 10 of his shots.
Young coach Tyrone Slaughter described the competition as “a phenomenal event.” The only thing I wish is that we had played better. They were extremely accurate with their shots today. They are talented, and they perform their roles effectively.”
AJ Casey, a recruit for Miami, led the Dolphins (14-7), who also had Xavier Amos, a recruit for Northern Illinois, in scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
According to Slaughter, “AJ has played well in the most recent few competitions.” “We require some additional people to come to join him, but unfortunately we did not have that today,” you said. “We need some other people to come to join him.”
