Evanston Boys’ Basketball defeated Glenbrook North 61-41, making this their 6th win so far this season. Evanston is currently ranked 1st in the CSL conference and 47th in Illinois. Last year, this game was the home opener for the boys’ team, and it was not a great performance. This year, it highlighted Evanston’s strong start and prominent future. 

“Last year, we played horribly in this game, so we just wanted to come out with high energy, intensity, and show them that it’s not the same team as we were last season,” sophomore Ben Ojala stated. 

Evanston ended the first half up 32-20 with solid threes from Senior Timi Ogunsanya and Junior Dion Lane Jr., along with Junior Vito Rocca and Ben Ojala with swift 2-pointers. However, Evanston’s defense was the most consistent throughout the game. Evanston was dominant under the basket with 18 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive, Vito Rocco leading the charge with 6.

During the second quarter, Ben Ojala hit the ground hard. He landed right on his hip, but shook it off. Soon after, Head Coach Mike Ellis took Ojala out with about 6 minutes left in the game. 

“My whole leg tightened up and was throbbing. I went to stretch it out and warm back up, but when I got back into the game, the pain started turning sharp, and we didn’t want to risk anything,” stated Ojala.

Evanston maintained a steady defense and last-minute shots from senior Miles Ross, Evanston took home the win 61-41. With the majority of the season left, Coach Ellis still wants everyone on the same page. 

“We want to be able to have situational awareness, and we want to play the game with no surprises. A big part of that is everyone understanding their role and staying away from the things that get them beat,” said Head Coach Ellis.