Michael O’Brien’s notebook: Dec. 1, 2015

As a reporter, it is dangerous to head to an event with the story you want to write already in your head. Sometimes it can’t be helped and that is what happened to me Tuesday.

Waukegan has three freshman that people are talking about: Ja’Dyn Brown, Jordan Brown and Bryant Brown. All three have been getting significant minutes. That’s a good story.

But Jordan Baum, Jordan Sherman and Deerfield are the better team right now. The Warriors moved the ball extremely well throughout the game, fought hard and tightened up on their own turnovers in the fourth quarter while forcing Waukegan into a boatload. Read all about it here.

Ja’Dyn Brown did not play in the game. Sounds like it was a minor disciplinary thing. Bryant Brown started, played a lot and looked very good. Jordan Brown only played a few minutes, didn’t see much from him.

Carson Newsome played well. And he’s on board with the youth movement at Waukegan, so that’s a good thing.

“I love the freshmen, I’ve been playing with them since I was in eighth grade and they were in sixth,” Newsome said. “We really missed (Ja’Dyn Brown) tonight. They all fit well with this team.”

(Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw) has a real good bond with us. He connects with us. This team has a lot of unity, everyone likes one another and coach really brings us together and brings the energy to practice”

Expect the Bulldogs to be a major factor by playoff time and stay that way for the next three years.

“I’m very pleased with where things are at this point,” Ashlaw said. “But talk to me after Evanston and New Trier next week and I’ll have a better idea.”

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Top scores of the night:

Hyde Park 47, Leo 40: Big man Tajuan Agee scored 27.

Morgan Park 119, Bowen 54: Charlie Moore scored 55.

Lockport 47, Plainfield North 43: Looks like the Porters are better than expected.

Zion-Benton 74, Grayslake Central 49: Zee-Bee’s appear intriguing. They don’t have a star player, but are very deep.”

Wheeling 48, Niles West 43: Officially getting worried about the preseason-ranked Wolves. Wheeling’s 6-9 big man Patrick Szpir is a Chicago State recruit. He had 17 points and 16 rebounds.

Loyola 56, Providence-St. Mel 32

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Urban Prep-Englewood has a 5-5 freshman point guard that is opening some eyes: Fred Cleveland II. A 5-5 freshman actually made the All-Tournament team at the St. Patrick Thanksgiving Tournament. He averaged 17 points and scored 32 against Kelvyn Park on Friday.

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A new episode of the No Shot Clock podcast went live today. Give it a shot if you haven’t yet.