Tipping off against rival Harvard Westlake, the Cubs look to earn their first win of the league campaign. After winning the previous six games, the Cubs dropped two tight games against Notre Dame and Alemany. The Cubs look to rebound with a statement win tonight.

Starting Five:

PG - 6’3” Jr. John Belardi
SG - 6’3” Sr. Andre Parris
SF - 6’7” Jr. Jack Kresich
PF - 6’7” Jr. Remington Rofer
C - 6’7” Sr. Colby Brooks

Quarter 1

The Wolverines win the tip but trade missed baskets with the Cubs until 6:45 mark, where they hit a triple for the first score of the game. The Cubs instantly respond with a Kresich score and a Belardi-created layup. Now leading, the Cubs commit a foul and surrender the lead, but the Parris hits a corner triple to restore the advantage. The Wolverines score a layup of their own at 5:00, and the next minute passes without a score. At 3:20, Belardi beats the press by himself and finds Kresich for a corner three. The Wolverines score a quick three of their own, but Roquemore earns a foul and makes a free throw. The Wolverines again score, this time off a putback layup, but Belardi gashes the defense to create another made layup. The Cubs give up yet another transition score, prompting a timeout from Harvard Westlake. Belardi finds Kresich for another three-point make right out of the break, and the Cubs lead 16-14. Ferguson and Cox enter the game, preceding an and-one score. The Cubs respond by creating another wide-open layup and retaking the lead. Suceveanu enters the game with 45 seconds left in the first quarter, and the Cubs turn the ball over twice on the bounce. The turnovers create a 5-point swing in favor of the visitors, leaving the Cubs in a four-point hole after 8 minutes.

Score 18-22

Quarter 2

The Cubs miss their first shot of the quarter, but consecutive Roquemore steals and a Wolverine turnover allow the Cubs to erase the four-point deficit. An offensive rebound at 6:12 leads to a Brooks score and Suceveanu score to follow. Now ahead 26-22, the Cubs return their starters and goad the Wolverines into foul trouble. The Cubs give up a score but remain stout on defense, prompting a timeout from Coach Adams to help revive the offense. The Cubs come up with a steal and offensive rebound to extend the lead to four. The Wolverines earn a foul at 2:16, hitting two free throws to make it a two-point contest. The visiting team hits a corner triple directly after, but Ferguson responds with a quick scoop layup. The visiting team quickly finds more points thanks to a hook shot in the middle of the key. Brooks gets fouled on the other end with 18 seconds left in the half, making one of two and tying the game. The Wolverines beat the press, and the Cubs throw the ball away to end the first half.

Score 31-33

Quarter 3

The Cubs open the quarter with a pair of free throws from Belardi, bringing the game within one  point. On the other end, the Wolverines miss a three attempt but are bailed out by a turnover and score one anyway. The Cubs fail to get anything of substance on offense, allowing the Wolverines to build a 7-point cushion and prompting a timeout from Coach Adams. Out of the break, the Cubs force a turnover and finally end their scoring drought thanks to a Brooks runner. Unfortunately, the offense seems to continue to sputter after that, and the Wolverines hit a three to extend the lead to 8. A steal leads to a Cox layup in transition, but the Cubs allow an easy and quick score directly after. After what can only be described as atrocious offensive play, the Cubs give up a three-point play and trail 13. Another conceded three-point play and poor defense allows the lead to balloon to 18 with 40 seconds left in the third. Another three-point play makes the lead 20 heading into the final quarter of play. 

Score 37-57

Quarter 4

The Cubs open the quarter by sending a pass sailing into the stands and conceding a runner in the lane. Kresich earns a foul and hits two free throws for the first score of the quarter. The Wolverines cruise past the Cub defense and slam a statement dunk through the hoop. Clearly, the Cubs can’t buy a bucket in this second half as they fall into a 27-point hole with 4:27 left to play. The Cubs need a timeout to stop the bleeding, allowing more points right out of the break. Ferguson drops in an and-one layup with 2:39 on the clock, allowing Tracy-Lindenbaum to enter the contest. Dylan immediately gets an offensive rebound and putback score before setting Suceveanu up for an and-one bucket. The run ends with a Wolverine triple right in the face of the Cub defender. With that, the clock hits zero, and the Cubs lose their third straight.

Score 49-73