Week 10: Senior Performances That Mattered

Week 11 is underway, but let's take a quick look back at last week's action. Last Wednesday, I caught a non-conference matchup with Nazareth Academy (East Suburban Catholic) traveling to Downers Grove North (West Suburban–Silver). The Roadrunners made a late fourth-quarter push, but it came up just short as DGN held on for a 49–44 victory.   On Saturday, Glenbrook South hosted the Hoops Against Hate Showcase, featuring eight teams. I was able to take in the opening matchup, a tightly contested game between Lake Forest and Deerfield. Lake Forest carried momentum early, but Deerfield grabbed the lead in the third quarter and closed out a 46–43 win.   With those games in the books, here are my takeaways on individual performances that stood out from the Class of 2026.    An under-the-radar senior, Austin proved to be a major factor in keeping the game close against Downers Grove North. He established himself early by doing work in the paint, flashing a nice baby hook and finishing off the glass over a lengthy defender in [player_tooltip player_id='2750033' first='Colin' last='Doyle'].   With DGN showing multiple 2–3 zone looks throughout the game, Austin consistently found gaps in the defense, collapsing it before kicking out to shooters or finding cutters for clean looks. He competed physically inside and showed soft touch from the mid-range area.   Austin finished with 12 points and was a key contributor on the glass, providing reliable interior presence on both ends.     The leading scorer for his team, Hyland finished with 13 points and delivered several clutch plays in a late-game comeback that ultimately fell short against DGN. Early on, he showcased quickness driving into the lane off the bounce and made smart cuts through DGN's 2–3 zone.   On defense, Hyland applied constant pressure on ball-handlers, tipping passes, creating steals, and generating opportunities for quick offense.   His three-pointers came at critical moments: the first late in the third quarter, then two more in the fourth when they mattered most—a corner shot cutting the deficit to 41–47, followed shortly by a wing three to bring the margin to three points at 44–47. Hyland's clutch shooting and full-court pressure gave his team a legitimate chance to pull off the win.     Against Nazareth, Romsey finished as the third-leading scorer with seven points. While the scoring output may not jump off the page, he made several impactful plays down the stretch beyond just putting the ball in the basket.   Offensively, he showed good feel, using a smart shot fake along the arc before side-dribbling into a three, and consistently put himself in spot-up opportunities. In the third quarter, Romsey delivered two impressive feeds off the drive to junior [player_tooltip player_id='2750033' first='Colin' last='Doyle']—one on a soft bounce pass and another via a wrap-around pass on the baseline.   In the fourth quarter, he converted a key and-one finish along the baseline that helped slow Nazareth's late rally. Defensively, his activity level was a factor in creating turnovers and being a disruptor.     Mordini proved to be a steady two-way leader for the Scouts, doing just about everything he could to keep Lake Forest competitive against Deerfield. He set the tone early by stepping in to take a big charge in the first quarter, then found his rhythm offensively in the second with back-to-back threes.   His ability to knock down shots from both three-point range and the mid-range stood out, along with his aggressiveness attacking downhill. Mordini showed comfort finishing with either hand and paired that with solid half-court vision, delivering timely passes to teammates.   On the defensive end, his length and instincts consistently showed up. He chopped his feet on closeouts with a high hand and used anticipation and lateral quickness to shut down perimeter drives. Mordini finished with 19 points while providing all-around playmaking on both ends.     Nagler finished tied for a team-high 17 points, going 9-for-10 at the free throw line where he looked unfazed. All of his scoring came either at the rim or from the stripe, consistently making key plays.   He did a strong job reading the defense, showing good timing on backdoor cuts that opened up lanes inside Lake Forest's defense. Beyond the scoring, Nagler brought a high motor, chasing down offensive rebounds and creating extra possessions through sheer effort.   Defensively, his activity level stood out. His hands were constantly active, generating steals, tips, and disruptions both on the ball and in gaps.     The Dartmouth commit handled constant physicality against Lake Forest, yet continued to provide steady production and playmaking. He finished tied with Nagler at 17 points, impacting the game on both ends.   Using his 6'8” frame, Pollack disrupted shots around the rim with blocks and strong vertical contests. Offensively, he consistently sealed defenders on the block and showed awareness pinning his man for clean over-the-top entry opportunities. Playing through his dominant left hand, he displayed a soft touch in the paint with baby hooks and effective use of the glass, looking nearly automatic around the rim.   Pollack also showed patience and vision as a passer, keeping his eyes up to deliver on-target cross-court passes when help arrived. One of his most impressive sequences came in the third quarter, where he sold a shot fake at the top of the arc before dribbling into a pull-up 15 footer. Then on another ensuing possession he drained a three to put Deerfield up 31-28.

Week 11 is underway, but let's take a quick look back at last week's action. Last Wednesday, I caught a non-conference matchup with Nazareth Academy (East Suburban Catholic) traveling to Downers Grove North (West Suburban–Silver). The Roadrunners made a late fourth-quarter push, but it came up just short as DGN held on for a 49–44 victory.