Boys Basketball: Improving Glenbrook South ‘knocking on the door’

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Evanston, 01/13/12--Justin Busiel (facing) of the Glenbrook South Titans shoots over Evanston's Jordan Perrin (left) and Leonard Garron in Evanston, IL on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. | Shauna Bittle~for Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:47AM

Ever since Glenbrook South posted a win against Niles West on Jan. 6, Titans coach Scott Nemecek has been pleased with his team’s play.

Nemecek believes the Titans can get better, and the players are doing their best to make that a reality.

“As of late, we are seeing improvement, and we seem to be putting the pieces together,” said Nemecek, whose boys basketball squad entered the week at 5-13 overall and 1-5 in the CSL South. “We are working really hard, and we are knocking on the door. I feel like we are close to turning the corner. The players have a goal of getting a few upsets and winning a regional. We are practicing like it, and we have those expectations.”

After losing to Waukegan 62-44 on Friday, the Titans don’t get a break in the schedule, as they’ll face New Trier one week later. The No. 6 Trevians are 17-2 overall and 6-0 in conference play.

“They are playing confident, but the pressure is on them,” Nemecek said of New Trier. “There’s no pressure on people like us. Hopefully, we can scare them and be close in the fourth quarter.”

Glenbrook South will be a different team than the one that lost 71-47 on Dec. 8, when the Titans were missing two starters and another regular contributor. Jamie Nikitas, Matt Siegel and Branden McGarrity all return to the lineup after missing the first game against the Trevians.

“That will make a huge difference,” said Nemecek, whose team is 2-2 since beating the Wolves earlier this month. “New Trier has shown if they don’t shoot the ball well, they can keep teams in the game. We hope to hold them to a low percentage from the perimeter and not let (Connor) Boehm get 25-plus points. It’s not a slam dunk, but that’s where we will have a chance.”

Justin Busiel also will be a big part of the equation on Friday. The 6-foot-4 junior continues to establish himself as one of the most complete players in the conference. He scored a team-best 16 points in the loss to Waukegan last week.

Nemecek likes the way Busiel plays on both ends of the floor.

“He’s a good defender, and he’s typically assigned to the other team’s best player,” the coach said. “He really feeds off of that. He collects that energy, and mentally his spirit is high.”