Freshman Hamilton leads No. 1
Young past No. 2 Glenbrook North
By Drake Skleba
No. 1 Young withstood a valiant effort from No. 2 Glenbrook North and won 39-33 Tuesday at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. The winners meet No. 4 Foreman (11-1) for the championship at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The Dolphins were led by 6-foot-9 freshman star Tommy Hamilton, who scored eight points in a one-minute span to lead the Dolphins to the win.
Glenbrook North (11-1) opened up a 29-22 lead with 49 seconds left in the third quarter.
Notre Dame-bound Alex Dragicevich (21 points) astounded the large crowd with an amazing off-balance shot with Young's 6-foot-7 junior Luke Hager hanging all-over the outstanding Spartan guard.
Dragicevich completed the old-fashioned three-point play for the Spartans' seven-point edge.
Hamilton (10 points) responded with a 22-foot bomb for three to bring the Dolphins within four at 29-25 with 29 seconds left in the quarter.
Junior Sam Thompson (11 points, nine rebounds) had a lay in at the buzzer that brought the Dolphins to within 29-27 after three quarters.
With 7:30 left in the game Hamilton scored and was fouled. He converted the three-point play for a 30-29 Young lead.
"I am confident in my ability," said Hamilton. "It felt great to hit the big three and help my team get this win. We grew up tonight as a team. We are looking forward to meeting Foreman in the title game tomorrow."
Glenbrook North got a monster slam from 6-foot-6 junior C Peter Szostak (six points, 16 rebounds) to put the Spartans back in front at 31-30.
Thompson and Hamilton responded with lay in hoops at the 4;18 mark and the 3:35 mark respectively. Sophomore Derrick Randolph (two points) hit a free throw and senior G Ahmad Starks (six points) nailed a pair of freebies to extend the Dolphin lead to 37-31 with 0:56 left.
"Tommy is a better shooter than a post player right now," said Young head coach Tyrone Slaughter. "He is an old-fashioned player right now. He will be a great player before he is through."
Slaughter addressed the media on Dolphin defense.
"We can defend!" he said. "We played a good basketball team that wanted to win tonight. If we do not allow the other team to score we don't have to hit our shots to win. If we hold you to 31 and we get 32, we win. Defense!"
