Naperville North's Welch stepping up in Johnson's absence
It's taken a team effort for Naperville North to weather Chris Johnson's recent absence, but Tom Welch is carrying the bulk of the load.
The 6-foot-6 junior scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Tuesday's 58-44 DuPage Valley Conference victory at Wheaton North, his second double-double of the season. Depth and balance may be the Huskies' overall strength, but it's mostly on Welch to make up for the loss of Johnson's 6-7 post frame.
"With Chris Johnson out someone has to step up and get more rebounds, and I feel like that should be me," said Welch, who's averaging 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds. "Hopefully I continue that when Chris comes back, but coach (Jeff Powers) has been on me about being more aggressive and create opportunities for my teammates."
Johnson suffered a concussion at the end of the Huskies' Jan. 19 victory over Waubonsie Valley, and he's missed three games since. Don't expect to see him in this weekend's games against Lake Park or East Aurora, but Powers is hopeful Johnson returns next week.
The Huskies are 17-2 overall and tied with Wheaton Warrenville South atop the DVC standings, but they'll need their big senior leader down the stretch. Johnson's averaging 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds.
"Getting the last two wins without Chris has been huge," Powers said. "We've talked about the power of the pack, and the pack is picking him up right now. Hopefully, we'll get him back next week."
<h3 class="leadin">Threes company:
West Chicago senior guard Jason Gimre is closing fast on the Wildcats' record for 3-point baskets in a season. With 67 so far Gimre is just 7 shy of the 74 made last season by Tai Bibbs, now a freshman guard at Columbia University in New York.
Gimre, who also sank 67 3s as a junior, already owns West Chicago's all-time record with 150 of them. That's 26 more than Bibbs hit over his three varsity seasons.
As far as West Chicago brother combinations go, the mark of Tai and Mikey Bibbs is secure. Mikey made 123 3-pointers to give that brother duo a total of 247. Jason Gimre's brother, Josh, made 34.
It should be just a short time before Jason Gimre eclipses Tai Bibbs' season record. Twice this season he has made nine 3-pointers in a game, once in a loss at Streamwood and again in a win over Ridgewood at DeKalb.
On the other hand Gimre may need to light it quickly should the West Chicago High School Teachers' Association decide to strike. They voted on Jan. 26 - the same day Gimre notched five 3s in a 63-60 win over East Aurora - to authorize a strike.
<h3 class="leadin">Evan flow:
To the surprise of no one, this week Glenbard West junior Evan Taylor picked up another Division I scholarship offer. It's his sixth, with more sure to come.
The 6-foot-5 wing has been playing a lot of point guard for the Hilltoppers (11-8, 3-5 West Suburban Silver). In fact, he's been playing a lot of everywhere. Taylor's versatility has enhanced his attractiveness to colleges.
"He's getting used to doing some things he doesn't normally do, but it's good for his game," said Glenbard West coach Tim Hoder. "We're asking him to do a lot out there."
Taylor's latest offer came from Loyola, adding to a list that includes Illinois State, Rider, Southern Illinois, University of Alabama-Birmingham and University of Illinois-Chicago.
Assuming Taylor continues to improve into the summer, more offers will follow.
Taylor's averaging 17.6 points with a smooth outside shot, a wicked pull-up jumper and an ability to get to the basket. He's also averaging 7.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists as the Hilltoppers continue to compete in the rugged Silver.
A young junior, Taylor might still be growing. His added size and strength already has Hoder looking forward to Taylor's improvements over the next year.
"I think this summer he'll be getting a lot of attention," Hoder said. "He's 16 and he's already one of the best players in the league. And he's barely started driving."
<h3 class="leadin">Skeete's shooting:
Waubonsie Valley has won three of its last four games, and one reason is 6-foot-4 forward Marcus Skeete has provided consistent scoring alongside junior guard Eric Cannon.
Skeete, one of the area's top sophomores, believes he's rounding into form after a bout with mononucleosis before the season. He missed the Warriors' first four games over Thanksgiving at Palatine, as well as Waubonsie's Dec. 1 game against Lake Park.
"I'm starting to get back to my normal self, I think. And coach (Jason Mead) has given me a bigger role on offense," Skeete said after scoring 23 points with 8 rebounds in Waubonsie's 65-49 win over Neuqua Valley on Tuesday. He did most of his damage in the lane and showed nice touch on midrange jump shots.
In two of his last three games, Skeete has set new personal highs in scoring. In Waubonsie Valley's 53-34 win at Lake Park on Jan. 23 the sophomore scored 20 points with 8 more rebounds, 6 of them on the offensive glass.
"I just think that I'm playing well," he said Tuesday. "I'm attacking, I'm playing really good defense now. I think I'm just back in the flow of our offense in how we do things here."
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