Laugh if you will, but when the pairings were announced for the IHSA Class 4A Barrington Sectional, the decent team that seemed to have landed in a good spot was Waukegan. Here’s why:
The Bulldogs have two huge weaknesses that they haven’t been able to overcome all season.
The first is their inability to attack a zone defense. Everybody that plays zone against Waukegan winds up holding the Bulldogs to 40 points.
The second is their inability to rebound and defend against tall players.
However, take a good look at Waukegan’s two possible opponents in the Highland Park Regional.
In the semifinals, Waukegan will face Lake Forest, which plays man-to-man defense and has no tall players. In fact, the lack of a center has been the Scouts’ biggest problem all season.
If Waukegan beats Lake Forest, it will next get Highland Park.
Yep, Highland Park also plays man-to-man defense, and not only do the Giants not have a big man playing center, they don’t even utilize a post player.
On the list of good teams that Waukegan would have to beat to make it to the Barrington Sectional, Lake Forest and Highland Park – because of the way their teams are constructed – would be at the top of the list.
Beware of the Bulldogs in March!
But all the pundints think that coach ashlaw should give the ball to Jerem Richmond all day and let him score 80 points while the bulldogs give up 81 a game..go figure
And oh yea Waukegan will never go far if that kids attitude doesnt change..
Waukegan Basketball has history.>There were good players before Richmond and after he graduates.Someone should tell him this.
Waukegan wont go very far in the post season because the entire coaching staff fails to understand what talent they have on the team.
I've watched Waukegan play for years they have always played hard. These kids sit back, no press, don't fight through screens and just wait for the game to come to them. They have the two little guys who played well together last year but this year battle one another for playing time. They play two teams who play man to man, imagine the other team having to adjust to playing against both those two. Look at the North Chicago game on comcast. I did, they won without two of their starters and the little guys played well. Maybe Before its too late someone will open their eyes in Waukegan, or all the fans will be traveling to see North Chicago and Zion!!