OPRF 57
York 38
Casual observers and more than a few sportswriters have characterized OPRF basketball this season as the “Iman Shumpert and Daniel Barnes Show” much to the chagrin of Huskies coach Al Allen. Taking nothing away from his two star wing players who he praises often, Allen also feels that 6-foot-2-inch senior Adam Taylor deserves top billing on the momentum-gathering burnt orange and blue marquee.
Taylor scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds to fuel the host Huskies’ impressive 57-38 win over York on Saturday night.
OPRF has won six straight games and 10 of 11 overall.
“Ask all the kids who the MVP on this team is and they’ll tell you it’s Taylor,’ Allen said. “He does everything you need to do to win. But he is not getting the recognition that he deserves. Adam is an unsung hero to everybody else but not to us. Everyday he sacrifices himself for the good of the team.”
The Huskies (16-5, 6-2) led York 17-12 with 3:46 left in the first half when Taylor sparked a 13-2 run.
Taylor scored on consecutive layups, one of which included a nifty around-the-back dribble to awaken the Huskies’ vaunted transition game. Leading 30-14 at the break, OPRF never looked back en route to their victory, which avenged a 56-55 loss at York earlier this season.
“We knew we should have won the last game we played [York],” Taylor said. “This time we fixed everything we did wrong and we wanted to pressure them a lot defensively. I just wanted to make some good plays and get momentum going for us. Once I get the ball, I just focus on finishing at the rim.”
Along with Taylor, who is averaging eight points and 10 rebounds, the Georgia Tech-bound Shumpert (15.1 points per game) and the Eastern Michigan-bound Barnes (14.9 ppg) have provided leadership and superb all-around play. Shumpert led the Huskies with 15 points to go along with his five rebounds, five steals and four assists. Barnes finished with 14 points and six rebounds on the night.
“The Big Three,” as Allen calls them, accounted for 15 of the Huskies’ 18 points in the second quarter, during which York committed seven turnovers.
“We just played tough defense and made their guards cough the ball up,” Barnes said. “We wanted to claim first place [tonight] and make a statement.”
After their frighteningly efficient second quarter run, the Huskies kept their foot on the gas pedal with a 13-0 spurt to build their lead to 46-23 with 1:14 left in the third quarter. Once again, Taylor was all over the court, scoring six points and collecting three steals.
Steve Ganser led the Dukes with 12 points and four rebounds while Roger Coffin added eight points and five rebounds. Although York fought hard and cut the OPRF lead to 35-23 midway through the third, too many turnovers (20) and cold shooting (only 14 field goals for the game) sealed the Dukes’ demise.
“This season we came out and we weren’t rolling on all cylinders right away,” Shumpert said. “For this game, we wanted to make sure we were rolling on all cylinders.”
At 6-2 in the West Suburban (Silver) Conference, OPRF is currently tied for first with Lyons Township (15-3, 6-2). The Huskies are already thinking big picture, though, regarding this season.
“I know its sounds cocky, but I have three Division I players so all I can focus on now is the state tournament,” Allen said. “All we are working toward is winning our regional. A by product of that we hope to God is to win the conference.”