Boys Basketball notes: Liam Johnson learning on the fly as IC Catholic Prep’s new point guard

Liam Johnson was forced to learn on the fly.

The IC Catholic Prep senior had played mostly small forward and shooting guard throughout his varsity career.

When senior point guard Augie Wassman was forced to miss a few games in late December, Johnson was the logical candidate to inherit the lead guard spot, IC Catholic Prep coach T.J. Tyrrell said.

“Liam is an energy guy defensively, and he did a nice job of stepping up for us,” Tyrrell said. “We made the decision to have him run the point. He hadn’t run the point any time prior to that. Before that, we had other guys subbing in for Augie to run the point. Liam was mainly playing in the two and three spot, but we knew he saw the floor well. He did a great job for us while Augie was out.”

Johnson, a three-year varsity player, averaged 8.3 points and 2.8 assists in his four games running the point against Reavis, Eisenhower, Evergreen Park and Taft. The Knights (7-7) won their first two games but suffered a 55-51 defeat to Evergreen Park followed by a 68-59 loss to Taft.

“The last time I played point guard was in eighth grade,” Johnson said. “I had no expectations going in, but I believed I held my own and controlled the offense well. The responsibility helped with my leadership skills.”

The Knights have dealt with adversity early in the season, mainly with injuries and missing key players due to the football team’s extended run in the playoffs. Senior Antonio Richardson, an all-state football player, is back in the fold, which gives the Knights an experienced player with toughness and athleticism.

“Antonio hurt himself in the playoffs, and we were worried he would not be with us for most of the season,” Tyrrell said. “He came back earlier than we thought. He’s been a leader for us, and he’s worked his way back into the starting lineup. We have Augie back now, and he’s been our go-to defender averaging nine points a game. We’re getting on track.

“With Antonio getting his basketball legs and mindset, we’re looking to pick up our pressure defensively. We’ve tried a few different things, with different offensive and defensive sets to find what clicks for us. But having the guys all together should help us make it a very successful second half of the year. We’re hoping to do good in the conference season and are excited about the playoffs.”

Senior John Hilgart headlines the offensive attack, averaging a team-high 11 points to go with eight rebounds a game. Johnson said the Knights are primed to make a run in the final two months.

“When everyone is back and we have developed our chemistry some more, I believe we will be a top team in the conference and a dangerous team in the near future,” Johnson said.

Tigers on a roll

To some, Wheaton Warrenville South’s fast start is a surprise.

But under the direction of Mike Healy, the Tigers have become a consistent winner in recent years. Even after losing four starters from last season’s highly successful team, the Tigers (14-1) have managed to exceed even Healy’s expectations.

The Tigers’ lone loss came over the holiday break, a 47-43 defeat to Normal Community in the State Farm Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.

“The kids have responded extremely well to everything,” Healy said. “They’re playing hard. We’re happy where we’re at and just want to keep it going. We knew we had four guys that played quite a bit last year, plus we knew we had a couple of juniors who could help us. I think they’ve played better than we thought. I thought we would be competitive, but they’ve taken it to a different level in terms of how hard they’ve competed and played well together.”

Tyler Fawcett is the lone returning starter, though Healy said his rotation is tight with Matt Sommerdyke, Danny Healy, Braylen Meredith, Colin Moore and Rourke Robinson. The Tigers’ formula of success is ball movement, quality shot selection, lockdown defense and each player sticking to his role.

Healy said early season victories against Rolling Meadows and St. Charles North helped give his players a jolt of confidence.

“We mainly only play six guys, but they’ve meshed well together and don’t care about who scores,” Healy said. “But we wouldn’t be where we’re at without the other guys. We have an unbelievable bench which supports them and plays hard in practice.”

Glenbard West’s big games ahead

After falling shy of a perfect record with one loss in the shortened spring season and returning the bulk of its key players, including Gonzaga-bound Braden Huff, Glenbard West has been a team in demand.

The Hilltoppers (14-0) played Glenbrook South and Yorkville Christian in a five-day span – a welcome sight for their coaches and players after dealing with strict West Suburban Conference rules last season.

Due to conference policy stemming from the pandemic, the Hilltoppers could only play teams from their conference last spring, forcing them to miss out on several high-profile games and the end-of-the-season Chipotle tourney.

This season, Glenbard West has been allowed to open up the schedule. Thanks to four Division I players on their roster, the Hilltoppers are a team in high demand.

The Hilltoppers’ upcoming schedule includes playing Benet in the Pappas Shootout on Jan. 8, then the MLK City Suburban Classic against Fenwick on Jan. 17. The Hilltoppers play Young in a must-see game in the When Sides Collide showdown on Jan. 22 and play highly ranked Kenwood in the GEICO High School Basketball Showcase on Feb. 5 at Wintrust Arena.

“We’re appreciative and thankful for the opportunity to play in such high-profile games,” Glenbard West coach Jason Opoka said. “It’s a testament to how hard our players have worked to improve throughout their four years at Glenbard West. Since we were restricted last year, we prioritized creating a memorable schedule. This team is not only playing for themselves, but for last year’s seniors. We must take advantage of the opportunities and cherish every moment.”