Despite the same result in the title game as the year before, Sandburg’s Will Johnson is proud of the way his teammates showed up during their winter-break games — especially on defense.
“Our defense was getting way better than it was last year,” Johnson said after a 51-43 loss to Hoffman Estates in the Maine East Holiday Tournament final on Dec. 30. “Throughout the (tourney’s) four games we played exceptionally but we came up short in the championship.”
“I thought we played great,” Sandburg coach John Daniels said after the Eagles fell to the Hawks in the title game for the second straight season.
Sandburg, which ended the week at 10-5 after losing to Joliet Central, had a five-game win streak snapped by the Hawks.
Johnson was all over the court for Sandburg, but missed some time in the third quarter after being hit in the head going up for a layup.
He scored seven of his 16 points in the fourth quarter in a comeback attempt. But Samdburg went scoreless for four minutes and no other Eagle scored that quarter.
With the added defensive pressure on Johnson, Daniels wants to see him play through the contact and also create more for his teammates.
“It’s a new role for him,” Daniels said. “As we go on this season, more teams are going to concentrate on him. And just because he is not getting the ball in this one play does not mean he is not going to eventually get the ball. But he is doing a good job.”
Johnson was named all-tournament for the second straight year after averaging 18.3 points across four games.
“It means a lot but I can’t take all the congrats,” Johnson said. “I have to thank my teammates for trusting me in those situations and give praise to them. It means a lot that they have faith in me and trust me to help win games.”
Also earning all-tournament honors was senior Will Hooks, who scored 14 points in the tournament opener against Leyden.
Bryson Dagon had seven points while Hooks, Liibo Debola and Jonah Johnson each had six points in the loss.
Sandburg was without junior Daniel Morakinyo for the tourney, which allowed other players to gain minutes.
“I thought we had multiple guys that came off the bench and gave us good sparks, and that gives us depth,” Daniels said. “It definitely gives me more confidence in those guys. If we can get those guys coming off the bench giving us good minutes, it makes our team better.”
Another player finding his own on the court and making the most of his opportunity was Eagles junior Kendall McDowell. He scored 14 points against Leyden and eight against Maine East.
“Kendall McDowell had two really good games,” Daniels said.
Much like his coach, Will Johnson was glad to see different teammates get involved this winter break and sees a bright future for the Eagles.
“They all played great, and were a perfect spark off the bench,” Johnson said. “Playing off that energy and those minutes was what we needed. We are starting to find our rhythm.”