Evans, Adams lead Argo past Shepard on Alumni Night

By Steve Metsch
Corrspondent

Argo’s Davonte Evans and Will Adams both knew it was just a matter of time before the Argonauts would find a way to beat Shepard.

That time came in the third quarter of a South Suburban Red matchup, when Argo outscored Shepard en rout to a 61-52 on Jan. 14.

“We just locked in on defense, stayed together as a team,” said Adams, a 6-foot-4 senior forward who scored 13 points.

Argo had outscored Shepard 18-11 in second quarter to take a 28-27 halftime lead, then used a 15-8 advantage in the third to take control heading into the final eight minutes.

“Around the third quarter, they started breaking up a little bit,” Adams said. “They started arguing with each other, so we had to all come together, play defense and lock in.”

As Argo coach Pat Maietta said: “When we defend, we’re pretty good. The challenge is we have to defend all the time.”

Evans, a 6-foot-3 junior guard who led all scorers with 19 points, ignited the Alumni Night crowd in Summit when he stole a pass and followed up with a dunk for a 39-34 lead with 2:45 left in the third quarter.

Moments later, he scored after another steal to make it 41-35.

Shepard junior guard/forward Payton S. Crims made sure the Argonauts had a battle on their hands.

Losing 43-35 after three quarters, Crims went to work. He scored three baskets — one a dunk after a steal — to light a fire and trim Argo’s lead to 45-43.

Shepard cut the lead to 53-52 when Kylan Rogers scored with just under two minutes left. But Argo finished on an 8-0 run.

Defense was the key, Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello said.

“We fought to get back into it, ran a few sets well, and turned it over against the press,” he added. “I give [Argo] credit. They fought hard, and they executed and got defensives stops where we didn’t.”

One of those stops came with 21.2 seconds left in the game and Argo leading, 57-52.

Adams blocked a jump shot by the red-hot Crims, who scored 11 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Shepard got possession of the ball, but turned it over.

The Argonauts (5-13, 1-5) have won five of seven games. Shepard fell to 4-12 and 0-6.

“We’re doing our stuff,” Adams said. “We’re finally getting our rhythm down. We’re on a roll. We’re going to keep getting it done.”

Maietta said Adams and Evans are hard workers and made some plays.

“We knew it was going to be a battle and come down to the end,” he said. “All of our games do any time we play Shepard. I didn’t expect anything less.

“It’s always nice to get a win, especially on Alumni Night in front of a nice crowd.”

That crowd was roaring when Evans sealed the victory at the final buzzer with a rousing dunk.

“They want to make a splashy play,” Maietta said. “I’d rather just dribble out the clock and get the W. But it’s nice to get a W.”