In high-level matchup, Broncos steal a win at New Trier in MLK Classic

New Trier boys basketball fit in a season’s worth of ups and downs during the long weekend.

The Trevians played one of their best games of the year in a 54-40 road win against league foe Deerfield (14-6) on Friday, Jan. 17, a day before one of their worst performances in a 60-47 loss to Lane Tech (11-9) on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Northwestern University. And to cap it off, New Trier went toe to toe with highly ranked Kenwood (19-1) on Monday, Jan. 20.

The drama on Monday went down to the wire when a late three-pointer from Kenwood’s Chris Watkins and a Trevians’ turnover proved to be the difference in a 69-66 Broncos’ victory. The marquee matchup was the second game of the second Lou Malnati’s City/Suburban MLK Classic in Winnetka.

“We executed well. We got what we wanted,” New Trier coach Scott Fricke said of his team’s effort. “Down the stretch, there were a couple rebounds we had to get and didn’t. We let them have a second possession, a third possession.”

New Trier junior Chris Kirkpatrick (26 points, 10 rebounds) drained a dramatic, second-chance three-pointer late to put his team in position to win this one.

But with 18 seconds to play, Watkins answered with a corner three for a 67-66 Kenwood lead.

On the ensuing possession, the Trevians turned the ball over on a half-court inbounds play. Kenwood’s TJ Seals then converted two free throws, and New Trier’s last-second game-tying attempt was off target.

Fricke said the Trevians had a strong inbounds play drawn up, but “(The Broncos) were on the ball hard and we couldn’t see where we wanted to throw (the ball). We have to go get the ball in that situation.”

The teams went punch for punch early with Kenwood taking a 15-13 lead into the second quarter. But New Trier — and specifically Kirkpatrick — then found their groove.

Kirkpatrick scored 11 points in the second, while fellow junior Danny Houlihan hit two threes as the Trevians nabbed a 36-27 advantage by halftime. Senior Colby Smith added 10 first-half points.

The Broncos switched to a zone defense in the third quarter, a risky strategy that left New Trier with perimeter opportunities but helped kickstart Kenwood’s offense.

Fortunately for the Broncos, the Trevians were just so-so from three-point land in the period, missing several open looks and helping Kenwood trim the deficit to just four, 50-46, for the final quarter.

“I thought we had really good looks,” Fricke said. “They crept back in the game because of us missing good looks, not us messing up. We just missed good looks.”

Houlihan found his stroke midway through the third, hitting three straight treys en route to seven three-pointers and 25 points on the afternoon.

The junior sharpshooter said he looks forward to these shootouts, which commonly pair successful programs that don’t often take the court together.

“I love it. I love playing these types of games. They are my favorite,” Houlihan said. “These are the games to watch. These are the special ones. Like coach Fricke says, you get like five special games a season; this was one of them.”

The Trevians fall to 16-6 on the year but remain unbeaten (5-0) in the Central Suburban South with key league games against Maine South (Jan. 24) and Evanston (Jan. 31 and Feb. 11) upcoming.

Despite back-to-back losses, Fricke said his team is playing well and the tough schedule should only help.

“That’s three ranked teams in a weekend,” he said. “We have to go look and see how we can improve, not the result of (the games). … What are the little things that we’re not doing? But our confidence is high, our kids’ heads are high.” 

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.