Cohen's career day lifts Glenbrook North over Carmel
Glenbrook North's boys basketball team got off to a slow start this season, slipping to 0-3 after a Friday night loss to Loyola Academy on Friday. The Spartans needed something to change, so the team pulled together with a meeting of what it could do better after.
It was a great idea in a lot of ways, as the Spartans played their best game of the season and beat visiting Carmel Catholic 62-31 in a nonconference contest on Saturday afternoon in Northbrook.
Glenbrook North (1-3) replaced its games over the weekend after contests were postponed against New Trier.
Spartans' sophomore Ryan Cohen scored 23 of his career-high 29 points in the first half Saturday. He also had 6 rebounds.
"I'm happy that we got the win," Cohen said. "I think if I start the game getting to the rim before shooting threes, that leads to a good shooting game over all. We've practiced a lot and we're a very unselfish team. Once one of us makes a three, it gives us a lot of energy and we carry it on."
The Spartans came out shooting on the Corsairs and led 22-12 after the first quarter and 44-18 by halftime. Glenbrook North was 16 for 21 from the field for 76 percent in the first half.
"I'm happy for the boys that they got their first win," said Glenbrook North coach Quin Hayes, the former St. Viator coach who also picked up his first win at GBN. "These last two weeks and these last two months have been hard on us. It's been hard on everybody.
"When you shoot (the ball) that well, things are usually going to go your way. I was really happy with our defense and the way we came out with the intensity on that side of the floor. I think it carried over to our offense."
Patrick Schaller added 10 points for the Spartans.
Carmel (1-2) played on Friday and suffered a road loss at Marian Catholic. The Corsairs had a tough time getting their shots to go down on Saturday.
"Maybe playing (Friday) night had something to do with it, but (Glenbrook North) also played (Friday)," Carmel coach Zack Ryan said. "Credit to (Glenbrook North), they shot so well. At the same time, you have to make the shots. (Glenbrook North) was making the tough shots. I thought we played hard especially in the second half and we did some things better. It's just a process with these guys. We have young players and not enough practice. We're just playing a lot of games against a lot of good teams. We just have to get better."
Bryce Moore led the Corsairs with 9 points Asher Jackson added 8 points.