Schroeder Steps Up, Sends Kits To Title Game

The sum total of Tate Schroeder’s contribution to Evanston’s first two wins at the 37th annual Chuck Mitchell Thanksgiving basketball tournament at Fenton was three points and two rebounds in 38 minutes played.

It was more of the same when pool play resumed Friday night against Wheaton Warrenville South. The 6-foot-4 junior guard didn’t even attempt a shot in the first half against the Tigers’ persistent 1-2-2 zone defense.

But then Schroeder and the team’s lone returning starter from a year ago, Vito Rocca, developed a two-man connection that helped the Wildkits punch a ticket to the championship game for the second year in a row.

Schroeder erupted for 14 points in the second half and Evanston’s defense limited South to a total of nine points over that same stretch as the Kits stayed unbeaten with a 35-28 triumph.

Evanston, the defending champion at the tourney, will face Palatine Fremd in the title game set for Monday at 7 p.m. The final round of play was postponed because of a heavy snowstorm expected Saturday in the Chicago area. Fremd (3-0) clinched its first place pool finish with an 81-51 romp over Romeoville Friday.

Evanston trailed 28-25 in the fourth quarter, then held the losers scoreless for the final 4 minutes, 22 seconds in a defensive duel that didn’t help anyone’s scoring average. Schroeder was the exception to that rule, scoring three baskets and a field goal and also assisting a basket by Rocca down the stretch.

Rocca finished with 11 points, despite foul trouble, and also contributed a couple of key assists in the final quarter. Wheaton South’s David Showman scored 12 points off the bench but the Tigers (1-2) shot just 32 percent from the field (11-of-34) and only mustered four field goals in the entire second half.

“I know Tate’s not happy with the way he played in the first two games, and he wanted to show that he was a better player than that,” said ETHS head coach Mike Ellis. “It’s good to see him come back like that. He knew it was time.

“That’s as slow-paced a game as we may play all year. It seemed like every possession on both sides went down to 35 seconds (end of the shot clock). We have to do a better job of dictating tempo with our lead guards in a game like this. I give our guys credit, because down the stretch they executed at both ends of the floor. That was the difference tonight.”

Schroeder knew he had to step with the Wildkits trailing 19-16 at the halftime intermission.

“I am off to a little bit of a slow start,” the junior confessed. “After watching the game film I noticed I was doing a lot of standing around (on offense) instead of cutting more. But Coach Ellis told me that he still believed in me, and I really appreciated that.

“We didn’t get the ball in the paint enough in the first half. When we got the ball inside we created more opportunities. In the second half, the cuts were open (against the zone) and we were able to attack them more from the edges. We had a whole team effort on defense, and that’s where it starts, on the defensive end. We were just too hesitant against their zone.”

The Kits connected on a mere 2-of-16 3-point field goal attempts as the Tigers focused on Evanston’s long range shooters. Schroeder (5-of-7 shooting) and Timi Ogunsanya (2-for-4) accounted for the only triples for the winners, who fired in a combined 24 in previous wins over Montini Catholic and Rollin Meadows.

Schroeder’s 3-pointer tied the contest at 21-21 early in the third quarter but the defending champs still found themselves down 24-23 at the third quarter break. South, however, only scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a layup by Showman with 4:22 to play.

Evanston’s defense delivered nothing but stops the rest of the way, including an off-the-bench effort by Tristen Wilcox. He forced at least three turnovers in the final period and the Tigers ended the night with 13 turnovers.

Schroeder and Rocca shared buckets that finally helped ETHS get untracked. Rocca fed Schroeder on a back cut to cut the deficit to 27-28, and in turn Schroeder set up his teammate for a short jumper that pushed Evanston on top for good with 3:10 left in the game.

Schroeder scored twice more underneath --- after defensive stops at the other end and also added a free throw as Evanston improved to 3-0.