Michael O’Brien’s notebook: Jan. 17, 2017

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The Crusader ‘Crazies’ going nuts for their team as Brother Rice hosts Marist, January 17, 2017 Allen Cunningham / for Chicago Sun-Times

Great night at Brother Rice. The Crusaders really played well. I’ve rarely seen a team overcome such a massive rebounding deficiency. Josh Niego and Mike Shepski are the real deal. Everyone in the gym knew that one of them was taking the big shots, but they still managed to get them off.

I’m going to hold back a bit on overanalyzing Marist. It was the first time I’ve seen them this season and it was obviously their worst game of the year. Lets see what happens with the Redhawks and Benet on Friday.

Making the short trip west on Chicago Avenue to check out Orr vs. Young tomorrow. That’s always one of the season’s most hotly contested games.

Tuesday’s top games

Hubbard 87, Solorio 49: I don’t know much, or really anything, about the Greyhounds. Saw this game last year actually (Kahlil Whitney days…) and Hubbard was actually decent. But get this, they are unbeaten this year. It’s just 9-0, but still.

Kenwood 51, Hyde Park 43: Great rivalry game. Bryce Langdon led the way with 21 for Kenwood. Hyde Park knocked off Bloom over the weekend. I caught most of that game. The Thunderbirds are playing very well right now, new coach Jevon Mamon is off to fine start.

Lockport 58, Bloom 51: How about this. Forget Fremd, Wheaton-Warrenville South and Prospect. The Porters really don’t pass the look test. They just grind away. Time to start taking them seriously. Matt Smietanski has been their best player this season and he had a great game with 17 points and nine rebounds. Chase Travis had 10 points and seven rebounds and Jake Karli added 14. It’s been a heck of a basketball season in Will County.

Loyola 65, Ridgewood 55: I’ll admit it, I kind of wrote off the Ramblers back in December. Well, put them back on the radar. They’ve been winning a lot of games and are now 12-5. Ridgewood is no slouch.

Morgan Park 63, Brooks 55: This score line is kinda alarming. Brooks has lost some key players to transfer. This isn’t the same squad that was playing so well at the beginning of the season. Morgan Park was a topic on this week’s No Shot Clock. It’ll be posted tomorrow.

Bolingbrook 60, Joliet Central 55: Heartbreaker for the Steelmen, who led undefeated Bolingbrook by one after three quarters. Malik Binns scored 17 and Kaleb Thornton had 13 points and five assists. The Raiders ended the game with a 12-0 run.

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