Boys Basketball: Glenbrook North turns up its defense on Highland Park

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HIGHLAND PARK Friday Feb 3 2012 Glenbrook North's Trevor Ponticelli (25) | Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:26AM

Entering Friday’s key Central Suburban North game at Highland Park, Glenbrook North coach David Weber was concerned about his defense of late.

“We hadn’t been playing well,” Weber said.

After the Spartans (15-5, 6-2) delivered a 44-20 shellacking of the Giants, Weber could only smile.

“Now we’re back to where we were at the beginning of the year (defensively),” Weber said. “Maybe even a little better.”

The game started in remarkable fashion as Glenbrook North led 17-0 after the first quarter. Highland Park was 0-10 from the field with nine turnovers in the opening eight minutes.

“I’ve coached a long time (15 years at GBN), but I don’t know if I’ve seen anything like that,” Weber said. “We were unbelievable. We were just so focused defensively.”

Weber was nearly more awestruck in the third quarter. The only points scored by Highland Park (12-9, 4-4) was a desperation heave just inside of midcourt by Jake Norcia (10 points).

The Giants shot 5-of-34 from the field (15 percent) with no two-point baskets. They entered the game averaging just over 10 turnovers per contest, but were forced into 17 by Glenbrook North.

Giants head coach Paul Harris was left shaking his head after the game.

“They imposed their will on us,” Harris said.

Kurt Karis sank two straight three-pointers to start the game, en route to registering 11 of his game-high 16 points in the first quarter. Trevor Ponticelli scored seven points, while Adam Chick and Mark Johnson each had six for Glenbrook North. Karis and Johnson both contributed five rebounds, while Chick registered four steals.

Even more important than the win might have been the fact that 6-foot-8 center Andrew McAuliffe returned to the court after missing eight weeks after fracturing his right kneecap. McAuliffe, who averaged 17.3 points per game before the injury, came off the bench to finish with four points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.

“I’m still getting back into it,” McAuliffe said. “My teammates did a great job of getting me the ball. I’m just getting the feel back for the game.”

Maybe offensively it will take a little time for McAuliffe, but his defense was true to form.

“We were able to gamble much more on defense, getting steals, knowing that the big guy was there to block shots inside,” Karis said.

The Spartans hold a one-game lead in the CSL North race with two conference games remaining. Maine West, who did GBN a favor by knocking off then co-leader Niles North, comes to Northbrook on Friday.