York Overwhelms Glenbard North With Size in Sectional Semifinal

<p>Wednesday night brought an enticing evening of high school basketball as Bartlett High School hosted York and Glenbard North in a sectional semifinal. It was a physical, neck-and-neck matchup that stayed tight deep into the game. Glenbard North grabbed the early edge in the first quarter, but York responded in the second and carried a 35–33 lead into the fourth. From there, the Dukes suddenly found their rhythm, creating separation down the stretch and pulling away for a 58–44 victory. York will now face Glenbard East back at Bartlett on Friday night at 7 p.m. for the sectional championship. Let's take a look at some key areas from the game.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Dukes Size Inside</h2>   <p>Having multiple players with strength and height, the Dukes utilized it to their advantage and wore down the Panthers' offense. Here are three players who created the most difficulty down low.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">The Georgetown football commit, who's grown to 6'5", came off the bench and made an immediate impact. He used power dribbles in the post, utilizing his big frame to create separation from defenders. Kampas also kept his eyes along the perimeter, finding open shooters with kick-outs from the block. His biggest play of the night came late in the third quarter when he fought for a follow-up finish through contact and converted with the fould, giving the Dukes the lead and momentum heading into the fourth. He even showed nimble footwork to stay in front of ball-handlers as they tried to take him off the dribble. Finished with 7 points.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Stepanich's height and length were a problem for Glenbard North that only became more evident as the night went on. The Princeton football commit consistently sealed defenders and dealt with constant help defense once he received the ball on the block. His seals and awareness to find open gaps led to quick drop-steps and finishes at the rim. He was also a force on the boards, grabbing numerous rebounds, getting his hands on a couple well-timed blocks, and serving as a towering presence in the paint to contest rim attempts.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Rennick was the shortest of the three, but the strong-bodied power forward helped contain the paint. In screening situations he made solid contact and followed it up with smart passes or hand-offs to his guards. He showed the physicality to take advantage of smaller Panther defenders and made life difficult for Glenbard North when they tried to attack the lane. In the fourth quarter, Rennick had a nice play where he found an open lane, dove down to receive a pass from the post, and drew a trip to the foul line. He looked comfortable there as well, going 4-for-4, and ending with 6 points. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Panthers Leaders Needed Help</h2>   <p>The two main scorers for Glenbard North, Welch and Carpenter, did everything they could to maintain the lead and push for a comeback. I'm not discrediting the rest of the team, but they needed more assistance in the scoring column throughout the night. We'll talk more about those two below.</p>   <p>A few others competed well in their roles. One of the top-ranked prospects in the 2027 class, [player_tooltip player_id='2455373' first='Oturo' last='Redento'] showed his length and quickness on the defensive end, but offensively he couldn't find his shot and had difficulty finishing inside against York's size. Fellow junior Caeden Chilton was flying all over the floor and playing physically inside despite being undersized. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2839935' first='George' last='Schager'] hit the second three of the third quarter to spark a 6–0 run and was methodical in creating second-chance opportunities. Those three finished with 4, 5, and 3 points respectively.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Carpenter's three-point shot was off for most of the night, but he still found ways to use his athleticism and get to the rim with craftiness. His pressure in the interior and quick second jump allowed him to make plays at the rim and force his way to the foul line, where he went 5-for-8. At times it looked like he was settling for threes to avoid York's size inside, but it was still encouraging to see him continually attack the rim and showcase his playmaking. He finished with 12 points.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Welch, committed to St. John's University–Minnesota, had a solid all-around game despite the outcome. He started off showing energy on the boards and continued that effort throughout the game. Known as a spot-up three-point marksman, he showcased that skill by connecting on five triples with a pure shot. Yet he wasn't hesitant to put the ball on the floor and attack defenders who were wary of his long-range threat. He finished with a team-high 20 points.</p>    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All-Around Contributions From York</h2>   <p>The Dukes' dominance inside was a major factor, but the rest of the team also contributed, with each player making key plays or important stretches.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Lubbe led the Dukes with 15 points on the night. He showed patience and precision using off-ball screens, and displayed a variety of finishes including a gentle floater and a mid-range pull-up after reading the defenders. He also spotted up nicely for his lone three of the night, receiving a well-delivered pass from the post. Lubbe played with the mentality to get to the rim and force defenders out of position, reaching the charity stripe ten times and converting eight of those attempts. His off-ball movement and ability to put the ball on the floor made him a difficult matchup.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">O'Leary did his damage at the rim, with several drives that led to points and momentum-flipping plays. In the second quarter, he converted a strong right-hand finish, drawing the foul for an and-one, and later added a slick reverse layup. In the third quarter, he jumped a passing lane and scored a quick two after the Panthers opened the quarter with a 6–0 run. The junior two-guard finished with 11 points.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Poku's scoring didn't stand out, but the junior guard was a constant pest for Glenbard North, attacking gaps, creating opportunities, and keeping the defense on its toes. He showed smart decision-making with the ball and quick, disciplined defense throughout the game.</p>

Wednesday night brought an enticing evening of high school basketball as Bartlett High School hosted York and Glenbard North in a sectional semifinal. It was a physical, neck-and-neck matchup that stayed tight deep into the game. Glenbard North grabbed the early edge in the first quarter, but York responded in the second and carried a 35–33 lead into the fourth. From there, the Dukes suddenly found their rhythm, creating separation down the stretch and pulling away for a 58–44 victory. York will now face Glenbard East back at Bartlett on Friday night at 7 p.m. for the sectional championship. Let's take a look at some key areas from the game.