Lake Forest’s Evan Boudreaux outworks Lake Zurich

Lake Forest senior Evan Boudreaux is the most productive player in the state. That’s just a fact. Look at points, shooting percentage and especially rebounds. The 6-8 Dartmouth recruit has been piling up the numbers since he was a freshman. He will finish his career with more than 1,500 points and more than 1,000 rebounds.

He doesn’t do it with the high level athleticism of Simeon’s Edward Morrow or the clinical precision of Stevenson’s Jalen Brunson. Boudreaux is athletic and he is skilled, but the driving force behind his success is a willingness to battle. He’s always the toughest, hardest working player in the game.

In some parts of the area, that would be a badge of honor. On the North Shore, not so much. Boudreaux and Scouts coach Phil LaScala get sheepish smiles on their faces when the rough and tumble nature of Boudreaux’s game is mentioned.

“I’ve always kinda played that way since I was little,” said Boudreaux. “I’ve tried to be the toughest guy on the court. That doesn’t have to mean pushing people around, it also means going the hardest for rebounds. I try to pride myself on that.”

It was the case again Wednesday. Boudreaux scored 31 and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 60-54 win over North Suburban Lake rival Lake Zurich.

“Our game plan was to go at (Lake Zurich center Mike Travlos),” said LaScala. “We told (Boudreaux) to go at him. And he did exactly that.”

Lake Forest led by six at the half and by nine after three quarters, but sharpshooting Lake Zurich is never out of a game. The Bears shot 11 for 27 from three in the game and had several chances to cut the Scouts’ lead to just two or three points in the final minute but couldn’t get a shot to go down.

“We worked on it all week, defending the three,” said LaScala. “I thought we did a good job of rebounding overall, but we have to work on getting some of those long rebounds off the threes.”

Senior guard Noah Karras added 10 points fo the Scouts (6-0, 1-0), who were without starter and key player Steve Vogrich, a 6-7 senior.

“He has mono and will be out a month,” said LaScala. “This was our first game without him. Two guys on the team have it, we’re a little nervous.”

Mike Travlos led Lake Zurich (7-1, 0-1) with 19 points and six rebounds. Jack O’Neill added 15 and Will McClaughry had 12.