Boys Hoops: Evergreen Park holds strong, tops Oak Lawn

By Steve Millar 
Correspondent

Nolan Sexton had for a long time been looking forward to Evergreen Park getting another shot at Oak Lawn.

The Spartans beat the Mustangs during each of the junior guard’s first two seasons, including a second-half comeback victory in 2021.

Sexton knew exactly what the Mustangs needed to do to make things different this time.

“Toughness,” Sexton said. “They’re talented, we’re talented; but I think the past couple years, they’ve beaten us because they’ve been tougher mentally and physically.

“We needed that toughness.”

The host Mustangs played tough on Dec. 8, holding on to upset the defending South Suburban Red champion Spartans, 64-61.

Junior guard Ulises Cardenas led Evergreen Park (5-3, 2-1) with 19 points. Sexton scored 18 points, freshman guard Lonnie Mosley chipped in nine points and six rebounds, and junior forward Billy Buchanan contributed seven points and seven rebounds

Robert Wagner led Oak Lawn (6-3, 1-2) with 14 points. Henry Martinez had 13 points and nine rebounds, while Corey Lee and Xavier Sulaiman scored 10 points each.

“We’ve been talking about playing mentally and physically tough,” Evergreen Park coach Jim Sexton said. “I think early in the year we’ve been physically tough, but mentally we’ve broken down a little bit.

On Dec. 2, The Mustangs lost to Tinley Park at the buzzer.

“We talked about learning from that,” Sexton said. “We’re a pretty young team. We’re building. To beat Oak Lawn in a tight game like that is unbelievable.”

Cardenas made a huge impact down the stretch. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third quarter to give Evergreen Park a 46-42 lead. He buried another 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, and hit five of six free throws in the final minute to help seal the win.

Nolan Sexton said Cardenas has been a big addition in his first varsity season.

“I think Ulises adds everything,” Nolan Sexton said. “The offense runs so much smoother when he’s able to hit his shots. He’s the X-factor. He opens up everything for me and the big men.”

Cardenas said he’s always been able to shoot.

“In eighth grade, I was like 4-foot-11, but I could shoot the ball,” Cardenas said. “That was always my advantage and of course I’m using that advantage now.

“I started playing when I was 5 years old. It’s just my love of the game and watching NBA players inspired me. I grew up watching Derrick Rose. I watch a lot of Steph Curry and Jordan Poole, especially. I like Poole a lot.”

Wagner and Martinez kept Oak Lawn close, but could not quite push the Spartans over the top.

“Henry’s really been coming on and showing flashes,” Oak Lawn coach Jason Rhodes said. “I thought he played really well. Robert played really well, especially in the first half. Those two guys kind of kept us in the game.”

Coming off the big win, Evergreen Park struggled the next night against St. Laurence, falling 74-42. Buchanan and Alfredo Rivera scored 12 points each.

Oak Lawn suffered back-to-back losses, coming up just short, 69-64 in overtime, against Hinsdale Central at the South Elgin Shootout on Dec. 10.

Ayham Salah scored 19 points, Lee had 15 points, Wagner finished with 13 points and Eduardo Chiquito contributed 11 points.