Web Sports Chicago 2007-2008 High School Basketball Season

At left Ardarius Simmons does his thing; at right Ryan Hare, Darius Smith, Davaris Davis and Ardarius celebrate on the bench. Marshall won easily, 84-54, over North Chicago to win the Sears Supersectional. Now they will have a third oppurtunity to win a state title (class 3a).

At left Ryan Frazier-Chambers with a game ending dunk; at right a jubilant Sean Croegaert and Zachary Morton celebrate wildly in the midst of their fan section. The Wildkits are Elite 8 bound and off to Peoria after dismissing Mount Carmel 50-40.

At left Eriq Harris slams one down and at right Dorian Tyler holds the Riverside-Brookfield sectional plaque. A low-key and highly focused Marshall team advances to Super-Sectional play after defeating St. Francis

Look who decided to take center stage Tuesday at Proviso East? The man his head coach correctly considers to be his best basketball player. Mr. Chris Colvin. Whitney Young, who defeated Oak Park 69-61 to advance to the sectional championship was led, as it always should be, by this marvelous talent.

Below is a example of a star team-player who always puts the fortunes of the entire team ahead of his own. Iman Shumpert exits the scene at Oak Park for good after loosing against Whitney Young. A true personality like no other, we remember you with fondness Iman. Good luck from us at Georgia Tech. as if you need it.

At 9:20 p.m on February 29, 2008 Englewood Eagle basketball came to a permanent close. It was at that time a last second shot that would have deferred the inevitable demise to a later date missed and with that no more basketball at a school set to close in a couple months. What a story though it still is for North Lawndale, who now competes in Super-Sectional play. Our first year of covering this program was a sensational thrill for us. For Englewood, yes it had to end sometime but to have seen them compete downstate for the trophy would of been some way to see them go out. Going out with style is head coach Louis Adams, as most of his senior players may know where they'll be next year but most likely he doesn't.

Oak Park's Iman Shumpert not only threw down some impressive dunks Tuesday against Hyde Park but he pretty much took over the game. As Oak Park eliminated Hyde Park 75-64 in their class 4A regional, Shumpert hit for 33 points and made up for the absence of Daniel Barnes. Oak Park won 75-64 and awaits the winner of Fenwick/Dunbar.

The face of Marshall basketball is Ryan Hare, and tonight we spotlighted him and all his Commando teammates with special expanded coverage (nearly 200 photos!). Sitting very near their bench, we caught great moments of reality from Chicago's best basketball team. Hey it's the public league title game and you deserve the best coverage when it's these two teams. Farragut...From your A.D. on down your top class. See you soon in the IHSA's.

(Left)Davaris Davis scores against Englewood Sunday at Attack Athletics in Chicago. (Right)Michael Dunigan slams against Curie. The rematch is set and nothing we can type will embelish it any more than it does itself. Quite simply it's Marshall versus Farragut for the Chicago Public League Championship.

Emotion spilled out over the top Friday at Englewood as the Eagles defeated Hales to win it's regional. Now in a few hours it's back to the Chicago Public League playoffs this weekend. Than back to the Sectionals a couple days later. This is a incredible bunch of players, and we feel their fine head coach, Lou Adams, is the right man to get them together for this amazing journey they must undertake.

We captured the spirit of true and raw emotion after Englewoods thrilling victory over Hales. The video is so large we needed two places to put it in, but this is really why we do what we do...capturing the real humanity of these fine young athletes. Oh and coaches too!

Tremendous excitement filled the arena of UIC Sunday for the CPL Quarterfinals, especially the last 2 games. Curie upended Whitney Young and the Admirals of Farragut ousted Simeon. Both these squads continually went deep in CPL playoff action only to be rerailed. Now they control their own destiny's more than ever before.

The Chicago Public League playoffs now is down to it's sweet 16 so we hit Englewood Wednesday to check out a team that is surprising many but not it's head coach. A visit at their final practice before a match-up with rival Hyde Park gave us insight to who this team really is.

Quite a basketball night Monday in foggy Chicago. At Hales one team not in the fog was the victorius Spartans. Hales got off early with a big lead, fell behind, than regained and dominated for a 83-72 win. Humphrey's led all scorers with 29 points and Davaris Davis hit for 24. In the end Marshall's key players, Ryan Hare and Darius Smith both fouled out.

It was a war at Marshall Thursday and the Commando's beat Farragut 90-71. That final score was not indicative as to how close this game was throughout; two good teams both came prepared and ready and the best one last night won and deserved it. Marshall now claims a regular season conference championship

It was not to be for Hyde Park Wednesday at Hyde Park. The Minutemen of Washington came up with a 61-59 Red-East victory. A rebound and follow-up basket by Paris Parimore with 2 seconds left was the game winner.

A packed gym and an electric atmosphere were present Tuesday at Sacremento and Roosevelt. It was there that Young avenged a difficult loss from a few weeks ago and topped North Lawndale 55-43. Mr. Kenner (pictured above) led all scorers with 18 points.

On Tuesday January 29 at Collins H.S. (soon to become North Lawndale also) it's the rematch; The Phoenix and The Dolphins. No one will forget what happened recently when North Lawndale went into Young and beat them. We now have posted all-access photos of The Phoenix of North Lawndale and the Dolphins of Whitney Young as they prepare. Of course the best game action photos anywhere of this game will be found here Tuesday night.

Thursday at Farragut things went downhill quickly. For us and Crane that is. We wanted, among other things, super shots of the Admirals Darius Stowers (l) and Cranes Dion Dixon (r) going at each other. Well they did, and we suppose way too much, so they both got thrown out by this very excellent official early in the game. Farragut easily won though 73-39.

On Tuesday Marshall, Simeon, Farragut, and Young were all playing. But we wanted to take another close-up look at Crane and in particular Dion Dixon. We were there about basketball, not about recent controversy. The Cougars did not disappoint us in their blowout win over Manley. Dixon, a sensational senior, threw down some monster dunks but stayed true to his game. He's a leader and also highly skilled on both ends of the floor as well as off the floor,

A small handfull of games each season we remember forever. This will be one of them. The Phoenix of North Lawndale defeated Whitney Young 68-67 Saturday night at Whitney Young after falling behind substantially several times. Located near 16th. and Kedzie in the center of Chicago's west side, this fine team that get's nowhere near the pub they deserve(we're guilty as charged too) showed the city last night the heart and soul of a champion. We'll have more on the Phoenix in the next coming days, with exclusive looks at this excellent team and their quality head coach Lewis Thorpe.

Quite honestly we were growing sick and tired of hearing so much about this player and not being able to find a clear photo on him in action...anywhere! So we took matters into our own hands and did what we do better than anybody; we snapped our own. Not only did we capture great game action on this most talked about athlete of the last month or so, we also captured exclusive pics of him at home with his family. Take a exclusive look at Crandall in action on the court (where Rich South devastated Minooka Tuesday night) and (coming soon) at home with a very, very nice family.

For about 85 percent of Tuesdays game it seemed like Crane would beat Farragut. It didn't happen though as the Admirals came to life late, very late, and beat the Coagars 50-44 in a Red-West matchup.

Formerly of the American Basketball Association and now a member of the Premier Basketball League (CEO is TNT's Kenny Smith) we check in once again with the Throwbacks. Seems like every time we visit them they loose (sorry guys) but still the action is good and the scoring is high.

Here is a wide view of farragut's Darius Stowers game winning runner against Whitney Young Friday night (1-4-08) with 1.8 seconds left. Simeon now awaits the Admirals for the C.P.L. Holiday Tournament title at Chicago State.

As he screamed " I'm the real s**t " directly into our cameras immediately after his Whitney Young Dolphins took the Proviso West Championship, a exuberant Chris Colvin is mobbed by fellow teammates. Colvin's end-to-end dash and lay-up with less that 5 seconds left in overtime gave Young a 55-53 win over Homewood-Flossmoor in a classic thriller. Click the photo for complete coverage, including exclusive behind-the-scenes photos as the Dolphins celebrate.

Kevin Dillard of Homewood-Flossmoor is on the move. So is HF. They defeated Von-Steuben 68-57 Thursday (12-27-07) at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. A hoped-for Marshall-Young final this Saturday night now is at risk...photos of Marshall-HF (Friday 6:30pm) and what a war that should be; we'll be here right after the game!

As West Aurora head coach Gordon Kerkman looks on, junior point-guard Markus Cocroft handles the basketball. In an electrifying atmosphere Saturday night at West Aurora High School, the home-team Blackhawks came from behind to defeat cross-town and arch rival East Aurora 60-50.

Even from the back, dazzling Lincoln Park senior Jeremy Montgomery displays why he needs to be mentioned in the same breath with all the upper-tier players in the Chicago Public League. Same goes for fellow senior teammate Brandon Ross. As for Lincoln Park as a team being mentioned in the same breath as the top program's of the Chicago Public League...you betcha! The Farragutt's, Whitney Young's, Marshall's, Von Steuben's and Simeon's of the world need to step back and make room for one more.

Waiting weeks after all other teams already hit the hardwood, new Marshall coach Courtney Hargray's Commando's exploded into the win column Saturday (12-8-07) at the Chicago Public School's Holiday Basketball Shoot-out, defeating Bloom 73-52. Ardarius Simmons and Davaris Davis each hit for 15 points to lead Marshall.

At left is Chris Colvin. His tenacity on offense was a showstopping event at Chicago State Sunday night in the Dolphins rout of Hales. At right Marcus Jordan and A.J. Rompza posed in the locker room after the game. Coverage of Von Steuben/St. Rita soon.

From time to time we'll be checking in with our local ABA teams. Last night (Sun. 11-25) we watched The Throwbacks entertain St. Louis at Attack Athletics. Chicago lost as The Stunners of St. Louis hit a three-pointer with 3 seconds to go; however a lively atmosphere and good crowd were evident at this west-side facility. Team owner George Bellevue and head coach Donnie Boyce have put together a team that appears will be a threat in this league. Games are high scoring and fast paced, allowing the players to show off all their skills.

For now we're going to make it fast but simple...The Dolphins of Whitney Young are loaded and a legitimate pick as a pre-season #1. Keeping it fast but simple, check out our exclusive YouTube clip of star Chris Colvin as he breaks it down about his teammates and the Dolphins chances for 2007-2008.

Iman Shumpert is poised to lead his team to the Promised Land they have never been to...Final Four Land in Peoria. View our photo chronicle from a practice session Friday 11-16-07 as this top ten ranked team was tested by long time head coach Al Allen.

With not one but two teams locally, the American Basketball Association made an exciting return Saturday to the Chicago Market. Those two teams faced off against one other in Cicero, Il. Coming out ahead was the Chicago Throwbacks, defeating their progressively newest arch rival Cicero Cometas 130-120. In a physical and exciting game, the Throwbacks held the lead thru-out and were led by Thomas Stanley's 37 points. Craig Franklin tossed in 23 points and Jerome Harper hit for 21. Imari Sawyer, a true hoops legend in this city chimed in for 19 points. Bulked up and as lean as ever, this former King High School phenom looks good to go as he enbarks on his long awaited professional journey. Coached by Donnie Boyce, the former Proviso East star of the early nineties whom helped lead the Pirates to a state title and whom also is a former N.B.A. player, look for this energetic and athletic team to cause a stir in their A.B.A. conference.

Check out the action Saturday (9/22) in Chicago of this top notch exposure league. Whitney Young standout Chris Colvin is among the many talented players who will be showcasing their talent here through October.

Lets step off the courts for a moment and remember we have 'Chicago' in our name. That means we turn every once in a while to other Chicago sports happening's. There's no bigger team happening than the Bears, and Thursday (8/2) we visited Bourbonnais and their training home at Olivet Nazarene University. Click here or above for exclusive photos from a hot day in Kankakee County.