PONTIAC—Sweat was pouring off Ciaran Brayboy and Spencer Boehm. New Trier’s talented bigs were clearly exhausted. There was one more possession to defend.
Somehow, Plainfield North’s Colin O’Rourke managed to drain a high-pressure shot from a horrible angle behind the backboard. That sent the game to overtime. The Trevians held on to win 59-55 in the first round of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament, but it was challenge.
“When [O’Rourke] hit that shot we were pretty flustered to be honest,” Boehm said. “We just had to come back together and keep on pounding them. In overtime we couldn’t really close that well. There was a little something off with our game.”
Brayboy, a 6-9 Harvard recruit, finished with 13 points and four rebounds. He was 4 for 10 from the field, which is more than he usually misses.
“I played him too many minutes,” New Trier coach Scott Fricke said. “He rarely had a break. I felt like I needed him in there and that cost us a little bit. I need to get him more of a break.”
Guard Noah Osher scored 12 and Sam Silverstein led the Trevians (12-1) with 16 points and six rebounds.
“In the fourth quarter and overtime I felt tired and I think my teammates did as well compared to a usual game,” Boehm said. “We had the two and a half hour bus ride. We really just had to stay together.”
New Trier’s Ciaran Brayboy (21) finds his way to the basket against Plainfield North, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (20) gets big dunk in the first half, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (20) gets a steal and a dunk at the other end verses Plainfield North, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (20) tries to get around Plainfield North’s Cooper Bridges (21), Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (20) runs into Plainfield North’s Cooper Bridges (21) as he rush to the ball, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Ciaran Brayboy (21) holds the ball away from Plainfield North’s Colin O’Rourke (23), Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Plainfield North’s Carter Thurman (32) hits New Trier’s Ciaran Brayboy (21) in the face as he goes up for a dunk, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Ciaran Brayboy (21) dunks against Plainfield North, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (20) get a fast break to the basket, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Plainfield North’s Billy Connors (34) scores two points, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
New Trier coach Scott Frickle claps after his team scores, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Plainfield North’s Matt O’Boye (10) gets trapped in the corner, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Plainfield North’s Cooper Bridges (21) gets a fast break to the basket but is meet by New Trier’s Sam Silverstein (20) at the rim,Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Plainfield North’s Cooper Bridges (21) best hit in his throat against New Trier, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Plainfield North’s head coach Bob Krahulik watches his team, Thursday 12-27-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times
Carter Thurman, Plainfield North’s best player, fouled out with 3:53 to play. He led the Tigers (5-6) with 13 points. Cooper Bridges added 12 and O’Rourke scored 10.
New Trier is appearing at Pontiac for the first time since 1958. They had a ten-year run back then and won two titles. New Trier East was at Pontiac from 1972 to 1980.
“The care and effort that they put into the tournament, we can already tell after watching one game and playing one game,” Boehm said. “It’s really cool playing on that floor with avid basketball fans watching that just love the game.”
New Trier will play Curie in the quarterfinals on Friday.
“It’s the number one team, we have nothing to lose,” Boehm said. “I think they are a beatable team. If we play our game we have a chance.”