Unselfish, smooth shooting Curie beats Simeon to cap remarkable week

It’s been a remarkable week for Curie. The No. 3 Condors smashed Morgan Park by 32 points on the road Tuesday. Then on Thursday they cruised to a 66-54 victory against Simeon.

“Honestly I would have been satisfied with a split,” Curie coach Mike Oliver said. “To get two huge wins like we did is incredible and the way we got them is just icing on the cake.”

Oliver has a trio of long, talented players in DaJuan Gordon, Ramean Hinton and Justin Harmon. All three can shoot it well and get to the basket. Senior Damari Nixon is another dangerous shooter lurking out on the perimeter.

But it is senior Trevon Hamilton, an experienced, steady and unselfish point guard, that might be the key to the entire show.

“He just keeps everyone in check and gets the right people the ball,” Oliver said “Tonight Ramean was hot, on Tuesday Nixon was the guy. It is great to have a team that can score like this and someone that can take care of the ball and get it to guys in the right position.”

Simeon’s Frederick Poole (10) goes to the rim. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Simeon’s Kejuan Clements (0) brings the ball down court. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Damari Nixon (2) fouls Simeon’s Kejuan Clements (0). Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Damari Nixon (2) grabs the arm of Simeon’s Antonio Reeves . Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Simeon’s Andre Casey Jr. (23) and Simeon’s Antonio Reeves (3) wait for a rebound. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Ramean Hinton (23) fouls Simeon’s Antonio Reeves (3). Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Justin Harmon (24) pulls down a rebound. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Justin Harmon (24) and Ramean Hinton (23) box in Simeon’s Andre Casey Jr. (23). Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Simeon’s guard Bryce Hall (5) floats straight to the rim. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s DaJuan Gordon (3) passes. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Damari Nixon (2) shakes off Simeon’s Frederick Poole (10). Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Simeon’s Andre Casey Jr. (23) blocks a shot put up by Curie’s Justin Harmon. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Ramean Hinton (23) dribbles the ball. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Nick Owens (4) stops and switches direction. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Dajuan Gordon (3) (3) and Simeon’s Sincere Callwood (4) tussle. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s Justin Harmon (24) tries to get off a shot. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Simeon’s Kejuan Clements (0) grabs the ball. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Simeon’s Antonio Reeves (3) reaches for a steal. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Curie’s DaJuan Gordon (3) (3) stops at the free throw line. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Harmon had 19 points and eight rebounds. Hinton scored 17 and grabbed five boards and Gordon added 15 points and six rebounds.

“We have never had a team where so many guys can score,” Oliver said. “Normally we have one or two guys that can really score. So far this year we can have a different leading scorer every game.”

Curie (10-0, 3-0 Red-South/Central) led by six at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 14-3 run.

Oliver’s focus after the game was trying to keep his team from getting too chuffed about knocking off two of the state’s best programs in a three-day stretch.

“We can’t get too high on it but we can’t get too low either,” Hamilton said. “We worked hard for this so we aren’t going to take it for granted. We also aren’t going to get big headed about it. We still feel like people don’t respect us enough.”

Simeon (1-5, 1-2) has already lost more games than in any season since it was 25-9 in 2009-10. The Wolverines figured things out in the playoffs and won the Class 4A state title that season.

“We knew Simeon was young but we also know they are Simeon and we can’t just come out and step on the floor and beat them,” Hamilton said. “We knew we had to come out and play hard.”

Sophomore Frederick Poole had the best game of his varsity career. He led the Wolverines with 14 points off the bench. Ahamad Bynum scored 13, but injured his ankle late in the first half and did not return. Antonio Reeves added seven points.

“When we looked at the schedule we told them how huge this week would be,” Oliver said. “We won it as a team and that is important. We have six guys playing well and that is great.”

Young started the season in the No. 1 spot in the Super 25. The Dolphins lost a game over the weekend at a high-profile even in Washington, DC. Undefeated Bloom and Curie have both played well enough over the past week to stake a claim on the top spot.

“We want to be number one but that isn’t our primary goal of the season,” Hamilton said. “We want to win the last game we play in March. But all the games we’ve played so far with this tough schedule it is helping us be prepared.”