Maine East trips up Maine West

Since joining the varsity basketball team as a sophomore two years ago, Maine East senior guard Ali Sabet has never beaten crosstown rival Maine West.

"They swept us last year and the year before," Sabet said. "This was a good revenge game for us. It means a lot for us to get a win in this rivalry game."

Sabet certainly did his part to help the host Blue Demons end their drought against Maine West.

He poured in a game-high 29 points on five 3-pointers in an 80-75 victory for Maine East that wasn't secured until the final seconds.

The game was fitting of a rivalry game, with a boisterous crowd and a nip-and-tuck pace.

Maine West, which drops to 4-4, 1-2 in the Central Suburban League North, was down by just 3 points (69-66) with 1:29 to play and then by just 2 points (71-69) with 1:12 left. But Maine East (5-3, 1-2 CSL North) kept hitting free throws to preserve a lead.

"I felt like right when we were right there, they started (pressuring) us and we turned it over too many times," said Maine West guard Justin Scholler, who finished with a team-high 26 points on three 3-pointers. "This game means a lot to all of us. I feel like this is their biggest game of the year and this is our biggest game of the year. Whenever we come here, they always have a full house with their fans and the energy is always good.

"This definitely hurts. For sure."

Sabet had big first and fourth quarters, helping Maine East start and finish strong.

He scored 10 points in the first quarter on two 3-pointers and 9 points in the fourth, sinking 4-of-4 free throws to help ice the game.

"'I've known him since he was a third grader and he came to our camp and we moved him up with the fifth graders because he was a little guy who could shoot the ball so well," Maine East coach Dave Genis said of Sabet. "He's grown so much in his game and he's become such an accurate shooter with range, and he can take the ball to the rim and attack. He's definitely our offensive leader."

Maine East also got 22 points out of JC Noriega and 11 points from Yash Singapori. Isaiah Siem-Davis and Danny Rice also scored in double-figures for Maine West with 14 and 11 points respectively.