Boys Basketball: Niles West to commemorate 50 years of boys basketball

• Reprints

2/3/12 Evanston-Niles Wests Alex Darville drives against Evanstons Josh Irving. Stacia Timonere/for Sun Times Media

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:25AM

Groundhog Day may have been last week, but like the movie of the same name, Niles West boys basketball head coach Bob Williams said he feels he’s been repeating the same day all winter.

The Wolves dropped two more games last weekend, to Evanston and Rolling Meadows, falling to 3-17, 1-7 in the process. Williams said his team regularly has short stretches where it plays well and executes properly. But those are usually followed by longer stints of struggles.

“We have a certain streak (of success) and then all of a sudden, things don’t go well. I feel like it’s Groundhog Day,” said the coach after Saturday’s 59-45 loss at Rolling Meadows.

“We were up with a couple minutes to go in the first half, and then they went on a run. (Rolling Meadows) started the second half with a bit of a run and then we were chasing the game. We were kind of in it after that, but not really. I feel like I’m waking up every day and looking for Punxsutawney Phil.”

In fact, the Wolves led 23-22 in the second quarter. But after a few Niles West turnovers led to Mustangs’ hoops, the visitors went into the locker room at halftime trailing 30-23. Rolling Meadows added to its advantage after the break.

Senior guard Cory Dolins hit three from behind the arc and scored a team-high 13 points for the Wolves. Junior forward David McCoy added 12.

Williams is quick to point out that his players are great kids, and his team does have youth on its side. But all season, the coach has been pushing for more vocal leadership and better execution on offense.

“Their answer now (when things are not going well) is to throw up a shot, and that doesn’t work,” he said. “What we need is to execute the game plan, and we get away from that way too easily. But we’re going to continue to work on it.”

Williams said the disappointment in the locker room after games shows him the players still care about turning things around.

“The kids continue to compete,” he said. “A couple kids were angry after the game because we’re not getting over that hump. I don’t like seeing kids unhappy. But the fact is, they still care. This is not a team giving up or going through the motions. We are trying to get these things done and they continue to try to do that.”

On Friday, the Wolves started and finished strong, but had little answer for Evanston the rest of the game in a 51-39 defeat in Evanston.

Niles West led 5-2, but then allowed the Wildkits to go on a 15-2 run. Evanston held advantages of 23-14 at halftime and 41-21 after three quarters.

Wolves’ junior guard Joe Younan (team-high 17 points) hit three from behind the arc in the fourth quarter, as NW outscored Evanston 18-10 in the frame. But it was too little, too late.

“Early, we played, but we gave up that run and we just continue to do that. Same thing in the second half, we gave up a run. Very frustrating.” Williams said. “We have great kids and they are working hard, but we’re not disciplined enough to (run the offense) that we are good at (running).”

The Wolves were to travel to Loyola on Tuesday and to Glenbrook South on Friday before returning home Saturday for a 6 p.m. tipoff with Highland Park.

The school will commemorate 50 years of Niles West boys basketball, introducing former coaches and players at 5:30 p.m. The all-time Niles West all-star team will be announced at halftime.

Program founder Billy Schnurr is scheduled to attend and after the game a reception will be held in the Student Commons.

Former players planning to attend should contact Therese Murphy, (847) 626-2803, or themur@d219.org.