New Trier in control of CSL South with win over GBS

New Trier went into Wednesday’s night matchup versus Glenbrook South with a lot going against them.

The Trevians only had one day of prep for an undefeated Titans team who have beat everybody in their path all while playing  in one of the most difficult gyms in the Northshore.

Despite this, New Trier showed tremendous team balance and defeated Glenbrook South 47-42 to take a one game lead in the very difficult CSL South.

“If you look in our book the last two years, it’s balance.  We don’t have a guy who scores 28 a game,” said New Trier coach Scott Fricke. “Teams have been double and triple teaming Ciaran (Brayboy) and our three point shooters have been stepping up big,”

New Trier jumped out to an 11-6 first quarter lead thanks to two three pointers by Noah Osher.  Both teams were plagued by early turnovers and GBS was content to stay in a zone, double teaming Brayboy while New Trier took a more aggressive approach with man to man.

During the second quarter GBS took advantage at the free throws line scoring seven points to chip away at the Trevian lead. With 32 seconds remaining in the quarter, the Titans Dom Martinelli converted two free throws to give GBS what was to be their only lead of the game at 19-18 going into halftime.

The 3rd quarter saw the Trevians open up the lead by holding the Titans scoreless for the first six minutes of the quarter with Brayboy scored six points and added five rebounds.

“We were really excited for this game because of all the hype they were getting,” said Brayboy. “They were not hitting me a lot in the first half because I was being doubled pretty heavily but once they started helping out more on our shooters I was able to get more open.”

Comfortably in the lead entering the fourth quarter, GBS and New Trier exchanged baskets, with Martinelli doing most of the heavy lifting for the Titans while Sam Silverstein was the one who got going for the Trevians.

Fricke noted the potential of Silverstein and his athleticism: “Silverstein has a high ceiling, he was our sixth man last year but he played a lot and he had a great game and he kind of put the team on his shoulders and handled the pressure.”

Silverstein also noted his own growth not only physically but also as a player: “Freshman year I was 5’9”, then I was 6’1” sophomore year, and then I got to 6’4” last year, now I’m 6’6”.”  As for his play in the fourth quarter, “We have a lot of weapons but down the stretch they kind of look to me to control the game and make the right play.”

Down by 12 with about five minutes to go, GBS called a timeout and to regroup. Martinelli scored the next 12 points for the Titans to cut the deficit to just two points with 1:32 to go.

However, despite the surge from GBS, New Trier were able to regain momentum courtesy of a Brayboy dunk.

New Trier was content to hold the ball for the last minute and called four of their five timeouts to help them handle the GBS pressure to close out the game.

“That’s why I save them. They only had three team fouls with a minute to go, that’s a big comfort when they can go for the ball,” said Fricke.

“That was typical hard fought, CSL, both teams know exactly the personnel of the other team and that was just about will,”

New Trier was lead in scoring by Brayboy with 12 points, Silverstein with 11 and Osher with 10.  Martinelli lead the Titans with a game high 24 points.

The Trevians improve to 3-0 in the CSL South and travel to Niles West on Monday while Glenbrook South tries to rebound at Maine South on Tuesday.