Tyler Beard scores 28, Young beats Orr to win Red-North/West title

The area’s elite teams aren’t all playing their best basketball of the season right now. Some were recently blown out, some were upset, some are just slogging through the dog days of January.

But Young is once again firing on all cylinders as it heads into the playoffs. Dolphins coach Tyrone Slaughter seems to have a knack for getting his team to play its best when it matters the most.

The No. 5 Dolphins dominated visiting Orr 73-60 on Friday in the game that decided the Red-North/West champion.

“These guys have answered the call,” Slaughter said. “It is a long season, it is a tough season. But the way we always look at it is that it is all built for where we are right now, the playoffs.”

The Public League playoffs start in early February and Young, the preseason top-ranked team, looks primed and ready. Junior Tyler Beard’s improved play the past two weeks has been the key factor.

PHOTO GALLERY

Young’s Tyrone Slaughter coaches his team to a conference title. Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young’s Tyler Beard (24) gets fouled going to the basket against Orr, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Myles Baker, Young

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Young’s Myles Baker (2) slips his way to the basket, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr coach Louis Adams tries to keep his team in the game against Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young’s DJ Steward (21) makes his way to the rim against Orr, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young’s Myles Baker (2) tries to get around Orr’s Tyler Bullock (3), Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Tae Williams (22) takes off for a dunk against Orr, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young Myles Baker (2) and Orr’s Tae Williams (22) go for a rebound, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young’s Justin Warren (11) gets a fast break for two points. Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young’s DJ Steward (21) tries to get into the paint against Orr, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Young’s Tyler Beard (24) hauls in a offense rebound against Orr, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Mike Taylor (1) attempt a layup against Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Mike Taylor drives to the basket against Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Mike Taylor (1) shoots off the backboard against Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Tae Williams (22) gets caught in a trap by Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Greg Outlaw (0) goes for a rebound against Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Greg Outlaw (0) muscles his way to the basket, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Tae Williams (22) gets fouled by Young’s Justin Warren (11), Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Orr’s Sherif Kenney (5) draws a foul against Young, Friday 01-25-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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“Tyler has put together four good games in a row and that has a lot to do with why we have been better,” Slaughter said. “[DJ Steward] has had a spectacular, all-state and Player of the Year-type performances. Myles [Baker] has been consistent. Tyler has been bringing up the rear until the last four games.”

Beard scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds. He scored 10 consecutive points to close out the second quarter and give the Dolphins a 41-24 lead at halftime.

“The guys were giving me the ball in great positions to go to the basket and I appreciate that,” Beard said. “[Winning conference] was big to us as a program. They came into our house and we had to beat them.”

Steward finished with 14 points, including a key bucket with 3:39 to play after Orr had cut Young’s lead to 59-54.

“I knew I had to knock down a shot there, that was important,” Steward said.

Baker scored 17 and grabbed five rebounds and point guard Justin Warren added seven points for the Dolphins (19-6, 8-1).

Tujautae Williams led the No. 14 Spartans (16-9, 8-1) with 21 points and 14 rebounds. The 6-6 guard had a rough game at the free-throw line but had several dazzling moments.

“I played with him over the summer so I knew he was going hard right and I just tried to contain him,” Baker said. “It’s pretty hard to stop. I just stayed with it.”

“We just didn’t want [Williams] getting those spectacular dunks where he can tear the rim down,” Slaughter said.

Orr senior Greg Outlaw had 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Sherif Kenney returned from an ankle injury to score 12 and grab four rebounds.

“That’s a good basketball team, they have some real good parts,” Slaughter said. “Our guys kind of recognized that we had dug ourselves a hole with the loss to Lincoln Park and wanted to avenge that and try to win a conference championship.”

The Dolphins last regular season game is Feb. 2 in O’Fallon against Iowa City West.