Morgan Park’s star-studded backcourt did its thing in the Chicago Elite Classic at UIC on Saturday. Illinois recruit Ayo Dosunmu seemed to get to the rim at will and Adam Miller bombed away from three-point range.
Dosunmu scored 24 and Miller added 18 points as the Mustangs dominated the second half to cruise to an 82-66 win against Champaign Central.
“We can just take turns, me, Adam and Marcus [Watson],” Dosunmu said. “I feel we are the best guards in the state. Adam took over in the second half, me in the first half. We just play off each other.
It wasn’t quite that easy though. Morgan Park was without 6-9 Tamell Pearson. He’ll be out until January with an injury. The Mustangs struggled in the first half, adjusting to playing withou Pearson. They were out-rebounded and trailed 33-30.
Cam Burrell, a 6-6 senior, came alive in the second half and was the key to victory. Burrell scored 22 points, 18 in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds.
“[Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin] told me I had to get going, pick up the pace,” Burrell said. “I was playing lackadaisical and I had to pick it up. I had to teach the young fella [Morgan Park junior Karl Jones] to pick it up too. We had to play with each other since Tamell went down.”
The Mustangs (1-1) took control with a 12-1 run early in the fourth quarter. Morgan Park used 12 players in the game.
“We wore them down,” Irvin said. “That’s what we have to do until [Pearson] gets back. I’m going to throw a number of people at em, my subbing is going to be a little different.”
Dosunmu helped out in the paint, finishing with seven rebounds. He was 8 for 17 from the field. Miller was 3 for 4 from three-point range. The sophomore transferred from Peoria Manual over the summer and has fit in quickly with the Mustangs.
“I came in with the mindset that I wanted to win and play, to do what I do,” Miller said. “This team is letting me do what I want to do and be a team player. I fit in exactly with [Irvin’s] offense and defense.
Tim Finke led Champaign Central (3-2) with 18 points. He was 5 for 15 from the field and 1 for 8 from three-point range.
Maroons freshman Khailieo Terry was a revelation. The athletic 6-4 forward had 14 points and six rebounds, including four dunks.
Pearson, a UAB recruit, was going to be leaned on heavily by Morgan Park this season. He will miss Thursday’s showdown with Simeon.
“It’s going to be a process,” Irvin said. “We might drop a few as it goes. Tamell isn’t there, we have to get used to doing it without him. But these guys competed, we are going to have to do it by committee.”
