Rolling Meadows junior Max Christie has turned in some terrific games in his career but the signature performance of his career, so far, came on Friday against Buffalo Grove.
Christie led the Mustangs to a 93-83 double-overtime win against the Bison. He finished with 42 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. Christie made two free throws with nine seconds left to send the game to overtime.
It can be difficult for Christie’s performances to crack through to Chicago basketball fans since the Mustangs aren’t ranked and have only made a handful of shootout-type appearances. But it is impossible to ignore 42 points in a huge double-overtime conference win.
Buffalo Grove sophomore Kam Craft, who has already surpassed 1,000 career points, actually outscored Christie with 46 points. He drained seven three-pointers.
The game deadlocked Buffalo Grove (20-6) and Rolling Meadows (15-7) at 7-1 in the Mid-Suburban League East.
New to the Super 25
Orr (17-6): All the new players this season meant it was going to be a work in progress for Lou Adams. The Spartans are firing on all cylinders right now. Reggie Strong is becoming a force and helped lead the team to wins against Corliss and St. Rita this past week. Up next is Curie in the Public League quarterfinals.
Dropping out
Waubonsie Valley (22-4): No real shame in the narrow loss to Neuqua Valley but Ben Schwieger is out with an injury for awhile so those two factors knock the Warriors out for now.
Public League playoff update
The four quarterfinal games will all take place at the higher seeded school. The final four is Friday at 6 p.m. and the championship game is on Sunday at 2 p.m. Early indications are that the final four and title games will be played at the Jones Armory at 5200 S. Cottage Grove.
It won’t be a normal event. Expect a shoe company extravaganza with special lighting and a DJ and who knows what else. It will likely be something along the lines of the shootout put on two years at the Navy Pier ballroom.
The week ahead
Fenwick at DePaul Prep, Friday: The Friars aren’t currently in the rankings but they’ve already knocked off Simeon and are clearly one of the more talented (but still very young) teams in the area. Junior Bryce Hopkins is already a Player of the Year contender but a big performance in this one would boost his stock even more.
Notre Dame at Benet, Friday: Things have been quiet around the Redwings lately but this is a dangerous team, especially in Lisle. Expect Benet coach Gene Heidkamp to have a solid game plan and if senior Jack Prock is hot from three-point range anything could happen.
Stevenson at Mundelein, Friday: The rematch is here. Stevenson won the first game at home. The Patriots dominated until a late Mundelein run in the final few minutes. The Mustangs need this win to prove they can be a force in the playoffs.
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Curie (23-1) 1
Winning without Mike Oliver
2. Bloom (22-5) 2
Martice Mitchell heating up
3. Thornton (25-1) 3
Took down Cardinal Ritter
4. Notre Dame (25-3) 4
Survived the rivalry game
5. Evanston (23-3) 5
Beat Pat Baldwin in a thriller
6. Bogan (22-2) 6
Hosts Crane in quarterfinals
7. Young (18-8) 7
Tyler Beard is a highlight reel
8. Homewood-Flossmoor (20-3) 8
Knocked off Bolingbrook
9. Simeon (19-8) 9
Beat Collinsville in O’Fallon
10. Marian Catholic (20-7) 10
Three big wins last week
11. DePaul Prep (20-3) 11
Cruised past St. Joseph
12. Joliet West (22-4) 14
Young players stepping up
13. Oak Forest (23-1) 13
Added a game against Curie
14. Stevenson (18-4) 20
Beat Loyola
15. Morgan Park (17-8) 15
At Young in quarterfinals Tuesday
16. Glenbrook South (23-3) 17
Took down Hinsdale Central
17. Loyola (23-3) 12
At Brother Rice on Tuesday
18. Bolingbrook (21-5) 16
At Lincoln-Way East on Tuesday
19. Kankakee (19-4) 18
Lost to Bloom, Thornton
20. Mundelein (21-3) 19
Beat Lake Forest in OT
21. York (23-3) 21
Nate Shockey is clutch again
22. Orr (17-6) NR
Reggie Strong rounding into form
23. Hillcrest (17-8) 22
Lost to Joliet West
24. Cary-Grove (23-3) 24
Still tops in Fox Valley
25. Hinsdale South (25-2) 25
Three-win week
