Some things are predictable about Curie and some aren’t.
The Condors always come in waves, especially on defense, as coach Mike Oliver continually subs in fresh legs and goes deep into his bench.
The converse is with all that depth, there’s no telling who might have a hot hand any particular day and break out on offense.
On Dec. 13, senior guard Justin Oliver, Curie’s top player, had a typically productive game with14 points in a 62-37 romp past Oswego East in the Team Rose Shootout at Mount Carmel.
“Justin was huge as usual, he just followed the game plan,” Condors coach Mike Oliver said.
The Condors (5-0) also had big days from senior Kendall Holliday, who had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and junior Tobyus Banks Jr., who had nine points off the bench on three 3-pointers.
Holliday is a two-sport standout for the Condors, playing receiver and defensive line for the Public League North champion football team. At 6-4, he brings a physical style of play to the basketball court as well.
“In the beginning, I felt like I had to rebound — like me bringing the energy to the team was gonna get my team started,” Holliday said.
He welcomed the chance to play against Oswego East guard Mason Lockett IV, a DePaul commit who scored 10 points.
“Most definitely it gives us a spark because we want to prove everybody wrong,” Holliday said. “… Everybody was saying we couldn’t hold him (to) a certain amount.”
The goal, Holliday added, was to limit Lockett’s shots and “send him right because he’s a big-time left guy.
“We had good help defense and we rebounded the ball very well.”
The main responsibility for guarding the 6-4 Lockett fell to 5-10 senior Saquan Commings.
“We tried to put a smaller guy on him, just make him work hard from baseline to baseline,” Mike Oliver said. “Saquan is one of the best defenders in the city.”
Meanwhile, Holliday was a force on the other end.
“Kendall was huge for us today,” Mike Oliver said. “He came up with some hustle plays, he was aggressive around the basket and that’s what we asked him to do. Be aggressive and hustle, and good things happen.
“He’s crafty around the paint. He’s a lefty and … he can jump.”
Banks, on the other hand, does his work on the perimeter.
“He comes off the bench, he gives (us) a lift,” Mike Oliver said. “(On) the majority of teams in the city and state, he’d be a starter. … He’s playing with some seniors that have been with us for four years, but he’s one of our key guys.”
It all added up to a marquee win.
“You get a chance to showcase your talent or play against one of the best players in the state,” Mike Oliver said. “That’s what I told our guys, that’s what these showcase games are for. If you’re not getting exposure, when you get a chance to play against high-quality players, you gotta perform.”