Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Simeon Crushes Morgan Park for CPS Baseball Title

Simeon 20 Morgan Park 9

Simeon jumped out to a 12-1 lead after 3 innings. Simeon wins a 2nd straight CPS baseball title. Last year Simeon won the triple crown of high school sports by winning the CPS football, basketball, and baseball titles. This year, the Wolverines took football and baseball. Ironically, they did not win it all in basketball- the sport which they are most known for.

Former Simeon Star Nate Palmer Selected by Green Bay Packers in NFL Draft

(ISU photo)

Congratulations for former Simeon star Nathan Palmer for being selected in the NFL draft. The Green Packers selected Palmer in the 6th round. Palmer played college ball at Illinois State University. Palmer played DL for the Illinois State Redbirds.

23-0 Long Jump for Simeon Sophomore Matt Fleming at the Windy City Classic

Windy City Classic- Results

With all of those athletes at Simeon, one of them was bound to come up with a break out performance. Well that performnace came yesterday as Simeon sophomore Matthew Fleming, a 5-8, 160lb defensive back on the Simeon varsity football team long jumped 23-0 at the Windy City track classic at Hanson Stadium. That mark is the longest long jump for a CPS athlete since Nigel Jolly jumped 23-3.5 for Morgan Park in 2009. Jolly was a state champion long jumper for Morgan Park.

Simeon, Morgan Park Win State in Boys Basketball

Simeon dynasty wins 4th straight state championship

Morgan Park delivers first state championship since 1976

Orr gives the CPS 3 state trophies

Class 4A Title Game
Simeon 58 Stevenson 40

Class 3A Title Game
Morgan Park 63 Cahokia 48

Class 3A Third Place Game
Limestone 58 Orr 49

Simeon Eases by New Trier to Make it to State Semi-Finals

Simeon 63 New Trier 54

Simeon defeated New Trier in the Chicago State Supersectional in boys basketball. I know the final score says that Simeon beat New Trier by 9. New Trier even got to within 4 in the 4th quarter. But this game felt like a Simeon lock throughout.

Simeon busted out with a 9-0 run to start the game. Then New Trier caught on fire beyond the arc to take its only lead of the game 19-18 in the first quarter. New Trier hit 6 of 7 3 pointers in a wild first quarter. Even though New Trier shot lights out in the first quarter they finished the quarter down 24-21.

The 2nd quarter was a slower pace as Simeon took a 36-28 half time lead. After that Simeon played a very controled and efficient game. They exerted just enough energy to win this game. Their goal was not to blow out New Trier- their goal was just to win.They even eased on a couple inside shots that could have went for monster slams. Instead they just took easy lay ins.

Offensively, New Trier has nobody that could stop the inside game led by star Jabari Parker(6-8,sr) and 6-9 Russell Woods(6-9,sr). On the defensive side, New Trier really had to work and pass the ball around just to get a shot off. Then, when they did get a shot, they had to make it because their offensive rebounding was almost non-existent against the much taller and much more athletic. New Trier really had to rely on the 3 point shot because of the shot blocking of Simeon. Simeon harassed the inside game of New Trier all night and Simeon must have had 10-12 or more blocks in this game.

New Trier played well in this game and gave it a great effort. New Trier senior guard Reid Berman scored 10 points in a row in the 4th quarter and Princeton bound G/F Steve Cook(6-4, sr)  played his heart out. I've played against both of those guys in pick up basketball at Life Time Fitness in Old Orchard. They are dominating players. But not against this Simeon team loaded with D1 talent.

I could see why New Trier beat St. Patrick, Notre Dame, and Niles North to advance to the Super Sectionals. But, their best effort was not enough to get too close against this Simeon juggernaut. I can't see any team getting close to beating Simeon for the state championship.

 

 

Cycles

People forget that it was only as recently as 2008 that Lane last won a city championship in football. Back in those days, they were beating Simeon and Morgan Park.

The only thing I can say is that basketball and football go in cycles. Right now Simeon and Morgan Park are dominant in both sports in the CPS.

It was not always that way. I know it is hard to believe.

On the football side, people forget Lane won 2 city championships in football the last 8 years. Lane was beating Morgan Park and Simeon in those days. Mather was a football powerhouse in the 1990's and actually won a Prep Bowl.

I know it is hard to believe but there will be a day when Simeon and Morgan Park is off the throne in football and basketball. When that days comes, people will look back at these days.

Basketball is a sport that is probably even greater affect in cycles

Not too many years ago North Lawndale College Prep won the city title. Farragut, Westinghouse, King and Crane were  basketball powerhouses. Nowadays, those are still solid programs but they started the season not as CPS contenders. Replacing them this year are teams like Orr, Curie, and Morgan Park. Believe it or not top 10 state ranked Morgan Park and Orr were not always this good. They both only won their first sectional championship in basketball only this season. Uplift in the Red-North went from a Blue team last year to a 2nd place finish in the Red-North this year.

Other teams will have their day when the cycle goes back to them. As a caveat, an up cycle is not guaranteed. The up cycle only affects the teams that put in the hard work, are massively motivated, and have a school that promotes good coaches and overall school spirit.

Simeon Wins the Showdown over Whitney Young

Simeon 44 Whitney Young 41

In a battle between the top tow ranked teams in the state, Simeon came up on top 44-41. Simeon led by 13 points in the 3rd quarter, but a Whitney Young comeback tied the game at 32 at the 4th quarter. Simeon 6-7 center Russell Woods did a good job defensively on star Whitney Young center Jahil Okafor.  Okafor scored only 8 points on 3 of 9 shooting but did have 5 blocks. Simeon star Jabari Parker  finished with only 7 points.

Whitney Young and Simeon could meet twice again before the season is over in city and in state.

GAME ON!

#1 Whitney Young vs #2 Simeon face off this Saturday at Chicago State University


Jahil Okafor(jr- 6-11, C) and Whitney Young hope to finally prove on the court that they are the #1 team in Illinois. (MP photo)

The CPS still decided to hold the game despite the shooting death that occured after the Morgan Park Simeon game. I'm sure there will be extra security both inside and outside the stadium before during and after the game.

This game will decide who is the #1 boys basketball team in the state of Illinois. Furthermore, it will receive national attention as it will be aired on ESPNU. Whitney Young is ranked #2 in the nation by USA Today and Simeon is ranked #10.

Simeon coach Robert Smith will not be there coaching as he has been suspended for 4 games by the CPS for his involvement in the Morgan Park Simeon altercation after the game. Smith however has been cleared to watch the game as a spectator.

As for the game itself, it is hard to pick a winner. Both teams are loaded with Division 1 talent. Simeon has the #1 senior in the state (and #2 in the nation) in Duke bound Jabari Parker.  Whitney Young has the #1 junior in the state (and #1 in the country in many publications) in Jahil Okafor.  In 8th grade Parker had a choice between attending Whitney Young or Simeon. He choose Simeon because he is from the south side and he wanted to play for south side Simeon.

Not for Public Viewing

Next Simeon Morgan Park Game to Be Closed to Public Viewing

The CPS has taken some actions after the fatal shooting death of 17 year old Tyrone Lawson after the Simeon Morgan Park game.

The biggest one being that the next Simeon and Morgan Park basketball game will be closed to the public and the media. In other words, two top tier CPS basketball teams will be played in an empty gym. Regular fans will pay for the actions of a few.

Also, the CPS handed out one game suspensions two players (one each from Morgan Park and Simeon?) after their altercation while the two teams were shaking hands after the game.

Furthermore, the January 26th game against Simeon and Whitney Young is being reviewed. That game pits #1 Whitney Young vs #2 Simeon at Chicago State University. The game will be heightened even more due to the shooting. Look for a battalion full of security both inside and outside of the stadium before and after the game.

 

Devante Lee of Simeon Picks Western Kentucky

Devante Lee(6-6,220lbs,sr, DE) of Simeon made a  verbal committment to play for Western Kentucky University. Lee, a 6-6 Defensive End said : "I really trust the new coaches. They are in a bowl game this year and they have been a winning program that is on the rise."

Western Kentucky's head coach is former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

Lee blocked an extra point in Simeon's 16-14 Prep Bowl win over Brother Rice.