Rich beats short-handed Waukegan but still isn't clicking

Based purely on the post-game comments and mood of Rich’s players and coach Lou Adams, no one would imagine the No. 10 Raptors beat No. 16 Waukegan 72-59 on Saturday at Crete-Monee.

“There is no excuse for the way we are playing,” Adams said. “We are throwing it away, 24 turnovers. At some point, we will catch fire.”

Last year’s edition of Rich showed tantalizing glimpses of greatness but lacked consistency. That has continued so far this season.

Junior guard Jamson Coulter is currently slowed a bit with a blister on his foot. The talented transfers from Hansberry, brothers Al and Ikee Brooks, are still integrating with the team.

“It’s been good overall,” Al Brooks said. “It started off a little rough, but we are coming together.”

Brooks, a 6-7 senior, had 23 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. But Adams wants more.

“He could be one of the best players to come out of here if he puts it together,” Adams said. “He takes plays off. You can’t take plays off.”

Waukegan (5-2) opened eyes with a win at Warren early in the month but has been without junior Simereon Carter since that game. He missed a loss to Christ The King and a win against Lake Zurich.

“We are being very cautious with him,” Bulldogs coach Ron Ashlaw said. “He has a sore shoulder. But that’s 23 points right there.”

To make matters worse, Waukegan junior Jaali Love picked up two fouls in the first 18 seconds of the game. But the Bulldogs never went away. The team’s chemistry is evident. They play hard on defense and move the ball well.

Rich (2-2) led 38-32 and built a 14-point lead late in the third quarter, but Waukegan battled back. A free throw by Adrian Serrano with 2:29 left cut the Raptors lead to 62-57.

Brooks responded with back-to-back buckets for Rich to end the threat. Coulter finished with 17 points and junior Jayden Williams added 15 points.

“We had too many turnovers,” Brooks said. “We have to slow down. We missed a couple of defensive assignments too. When everything is clicking and we are locked in on defense we are unbeatable.”

Xavi Granville led Waukegan with 25 points and eight rebounds. Serrano scored 11 and junior guard point guard Carter Newsome added eight points while blending it together.

“Our chemistry is off the charts in practice,” Ashlaw said. “Making the leap to game night is a little bit of a hiccup at times. I haven’t team every team in the state but [Rich] is probably in the top handful by pure talent. We just felt a little empty on our side vs. who they are.”