Evanston’s Clayborn proves clutch in win over Glenbrook South
BY DAN SHALIN Contributor January 13, 2012 10:50PM
Evanston, 01/13/12--Evanston guard Josh Irving (facing) knocks into Victor Levi of Glenbrook South as the Wildkits host the Titans in Evanston, IL on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. | Shauna Bittle~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 17, 2012 5:02PM
Evanston head coach Mike Ellis rewarded senior guard Bobby Clayborn’s strong week of practice with extra playing time Friday night.
Clayborn rewarded his coach’s faith by playing key minutes down the stretch, hitting a big-fourth quarter three-pointer and blocking the potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of a 49-46 win over Glenbrook South in Evanston.
“It was a three-point look, who knows if it was going to go in?” said Ellis about the shot attempt by GBS’ Josh Arenson. “Bobby took all questions of whether it was going to be good out of it. It was a nice clean block. It was a challenge for him to avoid the foul. It was special execution on Bobby’s part.”
The Wildkits (12-4, 3-2) were led in scoring by senior guard Josh Irving’s 12 points, and senior John Kountoures added 10. Senior Terrell Farmby, also rewarded with extra playing time, had six points. Senior forward Leonard Garron had five points and five blocked shots.
Evanston trailed 24-21 at halftime, but pulled ahead in the third thanks to a seven-point quarter by Kountoures. The home team maintained a lead in the fourth, but just barely.
Irving hit the front end of a one-and-one with 11 seconds remaining. But when he missed the second free throw, GBS (5-12, 1-4) drove down the court with a chance to tie.
But Clayborn rose and got a hand on Arenson’s three-point attempt just before the final buzzer sounded.
Junior Justin Busiel (18 points, 7 rebounds) led the Titans, whose two-game winning streak was snapped. Senior Jamie Nikitas added 10.
“Our guys are getting a lot better,” GBS head coach Scott Nemecek said. “This is our seventh loss where we’ve been real close. Very easily when you’ve lost a few games like this, you could implode, and (a slight deficit) could go from three to five to 10. But we kept right in it and had a shot at the buzzer to tie it.”
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