High Intensity! 16-U Illinois Wolves Top The 16-U Mac Irvin Fire To Advance To The Elite 8 At The Spiece Run N' Slam In A Game Packed With Energy And Excitement

Chicago Hoops
May 4, 2008

In a thrilling game that was played with a great deal of energy and intensity, the 16-U Illinois Wolves defeated the 16-U Mac Irvin Fire to advance to the Elite 8 at the Bill Hensley Memorial 2008 Run N' Slam All-Star Classic.

The Fire led 22-16 at the end of the first quarter, with the Wolves then rallying to take a 34-30 halftime advantage. Alex Dragicevich (Glenbrook North) came out strong with a pair of quick three-point baskets in the second half to stake the Wolves to a 40-4 lead before a Dre Henley (Chicago De La Salle) trey, and a Wayne Blackshear (Chicago Curie) cut the margin to 40-39.

Wayne Simon (Fenwick), who had a huge game for the Wolves, scored on a drive late in the third quarter to put the Wolves up 50-43 before another Dre Henley three-point basket, this time at the buzzer, closed the Fire to within 50-46 at then end of three quarters.

The Wolves led 52-49 before another Henley three-point basket, and a Kentrell King (Crete-Monee) bucket and free throw tied the contes at 52 with 7 minutes to play.

Wayne Simon then took over the game in the final five minutes. Simeon staked the Wolves to a 67-63 lead with 1:43 to play, and then gave his team some breathing room with a steal and a basket to put the Wolves up 69-63 ahead of the 76-65 final score.

Simon led all scorers in the game with 27 points. He was backed up by a 17-point effort from Dragicevich, and a strong overall game from Rahjan Muhammad (Neuqua Valley) as the Wolves gutted out the win without DeAndre McCamey (St. Joseph), who injured a knee earlier in the day.

Kentrell King, who has stepped up huge for the Fire, who are playing without star point guard Jay Parker (Thornton), led the Fire with 18 points. Dre Henley added 13 points with Sam Thompson (Chicago Whitney Young) chipping in 10 points for the Fire.