SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Boys Basketball | Adam Stuursma scores 30, helps rally Chicago Christian to win over Shepard

Spread the love

By Steve Millar
Correspondent

Chicago Christian went into last week’s game against crosstown rival Shepard having lost eight games in a row.

It didn’t seem likely the Knights were going to end that streak when they went to halftime down by 16 points.

Knights coach Kevin Pittman implored his team to focus on slowly chipping away at the deficit.

“We told them at halftime that you can’t come back and get it all back on one or two possessions,” Pittman said. “There has to be a bucket and then a stop, and then you have to keep doing that. Once we started doing it, I saw that confidence where the kids were like, ‘Hey, we can really do this.’

“I haven’t seen that confidence in quite a while, so that was probably the coolest part of the night for me.”

Chicago Christian found the belief and completed the improbable rally behind a huge performance from senior guard/forward Adam Stuursma, who scored a career-high 30 points as the host Knights beat the Astros 63-55 in Palos Heights.

Matt Stevens scored 10 points, Joel Crowell had nine points and Liam Crotty chipped in seven points for Chicago Christian (6-18), which won for the first time in 2023.

Robinson Hale finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Tyrion McGhee and Manny Oroczo scored eight points each for Shepard (11-13).

“We didn’t give up,” Stuursma said. “We started coming back, and by the time we got into the fourth quarter we felt like we could win.”

Stuursma scored 20 points in the second half, including eight in the third quarter as the Knights started to cut into the deficit.

They were still down 11 with under two minutes left in the third, but closed the quarter with a 9-4 surge. Stuursma hit a 3-pointer and Crowell came up with a steal and scored with seven seconds left to pull Chicago Christian to within 49-43.

Stuursma scored 12 more points in the fourth quarter, hitting a pull-up jumper to tie the game at 50-50 with 5:35 to go.

Stuursma also plays football and baseball for the Knights, and feels he benefits from year-round competition.

“Basketball helps the most with other sports because there’s nothing that gets me conditioned like basketball,” he said. “Basketball pushes you to a third gear.”

After Payton Crims scored to give Shepard a 52-50 lead, Chicago Christian outscored the Astros 13-1 over a five-minute stretch to take over.

Stevens converted a crucial layup and hit a free throw during the run.

“Especially with an insane comeback like that, it feels really good,” Stevens said. “We had a not-so-good game (a 65-29 loss to St. Francis on Jan. 24), but we made up for it, so I’m happy.

“It’s nice to get a win and end the losing streak, but it’s time to get an actual winning streak going now.”

Shepard will look to bounce back after being held to six points in the fourth quarter to let the lead slip away.

“We couldn’t make a basket,” Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello said. “I think we were 2-for-9 in the fourth quarter from the free-throw line. We got gun-shy and we turned the ball over.

“Stuursma played great. Chicago Christian made shots and we didn’t.”

Hale, McGhee and Jeremiah Storey — the latter who scored six points — all had solid contributions off the bench for Shepard.

“The bench in the first half, I thought did a great job,” Chiuccariello said. “McGhee had a couple steals and layups. Konstantinos (Primbas) hit a nice 3 at the buzzer at the end of the first quarter. But we’ve got to learn how to close out a game. That’s the only way to win.”

The Knights could not turn the victory into a winning streak as they ran into a strong Riverside-Brookfield team, which improved to 19-4 on the season by beating the Knights 78-56 on Friday night.

Shepard, meanwhile, capped a busy week with two more games following the loss to the Knights.

The Astros beat St. Anne 80-68 on Jan. 26 night behind 27 points from Jermell Lymon, 17 from Storey and 11 from Crims.

They fell 69-45 to Lemont on Jan. 27.

Local News

Crime scene tape lies on the sidewalk in front of the Crossing Bar and Grill in Worth where two men were shot and killed early Monday morning. (Photos by Linda Bogard) 

Warrant issued for suspected shooter in Worth double homicide

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong  Worth police have an arrest warrant for a man suspected as the shooter in a double homicide January 10 at the Crossing Bar and Grill in Worth. Worth police are working with numerous law enforcement agencies to seek the man, who was not identified. Police said the suspect is not…

reporter oak lawn logo

Oak Lawn officials rip governor, legislators over crime 

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle  Two Oak Lawn officials are calling for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and local legislators to re-evaluate a police reform law that they say has resulted in a rise in crime. Trustee Alex Olejniczak (2nd) served as mayor pro-tem during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday night in place of Mayor Terry Vorderer,…

New Eagle Scout Adrian Ayala with his parents, Lorena Sanchez and Lazaro Ayala. --Supplied photo

Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…

Hog Wild is scheduled to open Monday in Oak Lawn, a week after it was originally set to open. (Photos by Kelly White)

Hog Wild to open Monday in Oak Lawn

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White   Dining choices will get a boost in Oak Lawn with the arrival of Hog Wild. The restaurant is  scheduled to open Monday, January 17, at 4040 W. 111th St. That’s a week later than originally scheduled. “We are very fortunate here in Oak Lawn to have attracted Hog Wild,” Oak…

Orland Park Trustee Sean Kampas said voluntary camera registration will help the police solve crimes quicker. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Home security cameras could be big help to Orland cops

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva  Residents of Orland Park could have a hand in solving crime in the village. The board of trustees unanimously approved to move forward with a voluntary security camera registration program at its Jan. 4 meeting. It’s expected to start on Feb. 1. This program gives citizens and businesses a chance…

CRRNH_EagleComplaint_011222

Ailing eagle on the mend

Spread the love

Spread the loveSeveral blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge—just west of 47th and Harlem–motorists late last month noticed an eagle flying low and acting erratically. The Villa Park-based Chicago Bird Collision Monitors was contacted, and its volunteers found and captured the majestic bird. It was transported to a facility owned and operated by Glen Ellyn-based Willowbrook…

Joan Hadac

Can’t we just fast-forward to spring?

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. Is it spring yet? Is the pandemic over yet? Not that I’m impatient or anything. I want to move forward past all the negative COVID-19 has brought to my life and everyone else’s life. I want to see…

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Scavenger Sale different this year, Pappas says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different, as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years, offering at auction the…

U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-4th)

Give poor countries a break, Chuy says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) is one of 18 Members of Congress who recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to use the voice and vote of the United States at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abolish the IMF’s surcharge policy, which requires countries…

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

Stop sale of dangerous drugs online, Rush says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports Legislation designed to ensure that social media platforms and websites are held accountable for failing to prevent the sale of dangerous, illegal drugs on their platforms has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st). The Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers (DRUGS) Act also was introduced by U.S. David…

Neighbors

State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin

State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters.  The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…

Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen

Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…

Remembering Lee Milner

Remembering Lee Milner

NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now.  Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again.  The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall.  Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…