Michael O’Brien’s notebook: Dec. 6, 2018

The notebook is live from the mattress/lumber store (?) parking lot across from Kankakee High School. There wasn’t any way I was going to make it home and get this done by midnight.

It was a bit of hike down to see the Kays tonight, but totally worth it. Seeing a team at a shootout provides a really incomplete picture of what is happening. Nothing beats being in the town, sitting in the gym and getting a real feel for the community and the team.

Kankakee is clearly excited about basketball and it should be. The Kays impressed in a win against Rich South tonight. Jacquan Binion and TJ Wicks were known quantities heading into the season but the team has a lot more than that. Binion’s brother Darion has really improved and junior Lavell McIntosh is a force in the post.

Kays coach Chris Pickett has some very talented players, some nice depth and a great overall spirit around his team.

READ ALL ABOUT KANKAKEE’S WIN OVER RICH SOUTH

Thursday’s top games

Lemont 57, Argo 31: Big game for Nate Ferguson with 24 points. Cancer Colbert led Argo with 13.

Brooks 62, Perspectives 55: Milan Williams scored 20 and Pierre Pointdexter added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Tolbert kinda flirted with a triple-double with nine points, eight assists and six steals.

Rochelle Zell 60, North Shore Country Day 51: Congrats to coach Marty Dello on his 100th victory at Rochelle Fell. Brian Silverstein scored 20, Noam Efergan added 18 and Jake Silvers had 10.

Ag. Science 61, South Shore 41: Dan Davenport led the way with 17 points and Kyle Rowan scored 16. Ag. Science is 6-2 so far this season. I plan to get around to see the at some point.

Solorio 73, Tilden 66: Jordan Hill scored 22 points and freshman Donovan Jones continues to post numbers. He had 20 points and four assists. Sincere Key added 18 points and five boards. The Sun Warriors are 5-3.

No. 2 Bogan 71, Vocational 50: The Bengals rebound from the heartbreaking loss to Morgan Park. Jordan Booker had 29 points and Rashaun Agee continued his strong start to the season with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

Dunbar 64, Hubbard 44: Tyrese Scurlock is long and athletic. I watched him star on the football field this fall. He scored 32 and had 16 rebounds. Gavin Alston added 14. Juan Rodriguez led Hubbard with 12.