Evanston's defense does job against Niles North

Frazier-Chambers' nine steals leads way in 59-42 victory

The Evanston boys basketball team let its defense do all of the talking on Tuesday night. 
 
The Wildkits took advantage of a number of Niles North turnovers and turned them into points. Evanston went on to roll past the host Vikings 59-42 in a Central Suburban League crossover game in Skokie.
 
Ryan Frazier-Chambers led the Wildkits with 15 points and nine steals, while James Farr added 10 points. Niles North's Abdel Nader tallied a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds. 
 
"That's one of the ways we've played the game in the past," Evanston coach Bobby Locke said. "We're just now trying to get back to the point of playing good defense. We still get our plan of going after loose balls. We can get guys to be unselfish and dive on the floor. We've got to get one guy to secure for another and that's unselfish. We're getting there, but we're not there yet."
 
The Wildkits broke a two-game slide after losses to highly-regarded Waukegan and St. Ignatius last weekend and improved its record to 14-12.
 
"We've focused on our defense over the last month," said Locke, whose team shot 26 of 42 for 64 percent. "That's why the offense looks a little sketchy. We need to regroup and focus on everything. We're getting close to where I want it to be with the rotation. We've got a good group, and all you've got to do is put it together at this time of year."
 
Evanston held a narrow lead of 7-6 after the Vikings' Nader dropped in a three-pointer with 3 minutes, 19 seconds left in the opening quarter. Frazier-Chambers forced a couple of turnovers with steals during a 12-4 run, and the Wildkits led 19-10 after the opening quarter. 
 
"I try to do everything, but points really don't come to me," Frazier-Chambers said. "I let my team get all the points. I do all the little stuff, get down on the floor, assists and rebounds."
 
The Vikings closed the margin in the second quarter to 23-17, when Nader made 1 of 2 free throws with 4:22 remaining. But the Wildkits went on an 8-4 run and led 31-21 at the break.
 
Evanston's defense showed up once again starting the third quarter. Niles North turned the ball over four straight times. Then the Wildkits went on another 12-4 run as Earl Washington (8 points) hit a short jumper for a 43-25 lead with 2:35 left.
 
"(Evanston's) a good team and playing well right now," said Niles North coach Glenn Olson, whose team is 12-14. "(Evanston) was quick, long and all over over the place. They know how to make the plays. We've got young and inexperienced guards. (Evanston) has three experienced guards on that team and it hurt us."
 
Evanston led 44-28 entering the final quarter and didn't let up the rest of the way, keeping the score in double-digits.
 
The Wildkits' Garrett Jones chipped in seven points, Tyrone Gibbs added six points and six rebounds and Patrick Hussain scored four. The Vikings' Marlon Senior also scored 11 points.