Kankakee Dominates Waukegan as Two Stars Shake Off Flu Bug
In a thrilling matchup at Hope Academy's New Year's Extravaganza, Kankakee High School proved they're a force to be reckoned with in the state. Despite being ravaged by the flu just days prior, the No. 3 team from Kankakee pulled off an impressive 86-61 victory over No. 13 Waukegan, showcasing their resilience and talent.
At the forefront of this dominance were seniors EJ Hazelett and Lincoln Williams, who led the charge with 24 and 23 points respectively, complemented by eight rebounds each. Both players have college aspirations, having earned Division I scholarships, but what's truly remarkable is how they've adapted to their illness.
"Honestly, I thought for sure I wasn't going to play," a visibly still-sick Williams revealed in the post-game interview. "But we came out with great energy and fought through it." Hazelett added that after the 56-49 loss to DePaul Prep, which was initially seen as a setback, they've been working on perfecting their teamwork, smart play, and speed.
Coach Chris Pickett couldn't be prouder of his team's performance. "For them to come out with that level of effort is truly impressive," he said, highlighting the team's ability to overcome fatigue and dehydration issues. The supporting cast around Hazelett and Williams also played a crucial role in securing this win.
Waukegan's Carson Newsome led their team with 17 points, but it wasn't enough against Kankakee's well-oiled machine. Meanwhile, at the other end of the court, No. 2 Curie edged out No. 24 St. Patrick 52-47 in overtime, thanks to a clutch performance from Saquan Commings and Justin Oliver scoring 19 points.
As these teams continue to battle it out on the court, one thing's clear: Kankakee is back with a vengeance, shaking off their illness bug to prove they're more than just a flash in the pan.
In a thrilling matchup at Hope Academy's New Year's Extravaganza, Kankakee High School proved they're a force to be reckoned with in the state. Despite being ravaged by the flu just days prior, the No. 3 team from Kankakee pulled off an impressive 86-61 victory over No. 13 Waukegan, showcasing their resilience and talent.
At the forefront of this dominance were seniors EJ Hazelett and Lincoln Williams, who led the charge with 24 and 23 points respectively, complemented by eight rebounds each. Both players have college aspirations, having earned Division I scholarships, but what's truly remarkable is how they've adapted to their illness.
"Honestly, I thought for sure I wasn't going to play," a visibly still-sick Williams revealed in the post-game interview. "But we came out with great energy and fought through it." Hazelett added that after the 56-49 loss to DePaul Prep, which was initially seen as a setback, they've been working on perfecting their teamwork, smart play, and speed.
Coach Chris Pickett couldn't be prouder of his team's performance. "For them to come out with that level of effort is truly impressive," he said, highlighting the team's ability to overcome fatigue and dehydration issues. The supporting cast around Hazelett and Williams also played a crucial role in securing this win.
Waukegan's Carson Newsome led their team with 17 points, but it wasn't enough against Kankakee's well-oiled machine. Meanwhile, at the other end of the court, No. 2 Curie edged out No. 24 St. Patrick 52-47 in overtime, thanks to a clutch performance from Saquan Commings and Justin Oliver scoring 19 points.
As these teams continue to battle it out on the court, one thing's clear: Kankakee is back with a vengeance, shaking off their illness bug to prove they're more than just a flash in the pan.
i mean 86-61 is a big win but those seniors had to push through some serious sickness 
coach pickett must be doing something right, gotta love the energy and teamwork they showed out there 
e j hazelett and lincoln williams are straight fire tho 
25 points each? that's some next level stuff especially considering they were still feeling the flu bug 
. Coach Chris Pickett must be so proud of his team, and I'm definitely not surprised by their resilience! 
i mean e j and lincoln were on fire 
coach pickett should be super proud of his team's performance too 
. And props to Coach Pickett for keeping them motivated despite all the setbacks. It's awesome to see a team overcome fatigue and still bring their A-game 
. Kankakee is definitely on my radar now, can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!
. And coach Pickett must be super proud of his team's effort 
seriously though kankakee's EJ Hazelett and Lincoln Williams are straight fire 