New Trier’s Kirkpatrick returns to burn Evanston

No announcement was made for senior standout Christopher Kirkpatrick’s return to New Trier’s lineup on Friday night.

Except for the roar of the fourth-quarter crowd.

Kirkpatrick’s late heroics — six straight points, including the game-winning jumper in two minutes — turned and kept the rivalry game with Evanston in the Trevians’ favor during a 72-67 victory on Feb. 13 in Winnetka.

“I just didn’t want us to get too high or too low. I wanted us to stay level-headed,” Kirkpatrick said of the dramatic fourth quarter. “And when the game’s on the line, I want the ball in my hands. I trust my teammates to make shots and when it comes down to it, coach (Scott) Fricke, all the coaches trust me, my teammates trust me and I just make the right play.”

Rehabbing an injured knee, Kirkpatrick was playing in his first game since mid-December and was on a minutes restriction.

After a modest start, Kirkpatrick took over on the Trevians’ offensive end, scoring 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half.

In the final half, the teams jockeyed back and forth until a lay-in from Vito Rocca (16 points) gave Evanston a 67-64 advantage with two minutes to play.

On the Trevians’ next possessions: Kirkpatrick sank a step-back 10-foot jumper near the free-throw line (67-66 Evanston), Kirkpatrick sank a step-back 15-foot jumper from the right baseline (68-67 New Trier) and Kirkpatrick drove and converted a reverse layup (70-67 New Trier).

“He’s an incredible player,” Fricke said. “He’s one of the best players that’s come through New Trier, and unfortunately, he’s missed some time the past two years, so you saw a little preview of what he can do. But I’m not surprised. He does that every day in practice. There’s a reason he’s going to Princeton.”

Trevians senior Danny Houlihan recorded the final two points on free throws following an Evanston turnover and foul with 5 seconds to go.

The Trevians’ win avenges a January loss to Evanston that kicked off a three-game losing streak.

New Trier (22-7) has since gotten back on track and are now winners of nine of its last 10 and gave Evanston (22-6), the Central Suburban South champ, its fist league loss.

The rivalry matchup was all Trevians early, as the hosts jumped out to a 14-4 advantage.

The Kits fought back, but behind the big first half of Elton Jaegerskog (15 of his 23 points), the Trevians had a 37-32 lead at halftime.

Evanston’s three-point assault in the third quarter (5-of-8 from beyond the arc) brought the visitors all the way back, but the Trevians hung in.

“They are such a high-scoring team. They shoot the ball so well,” Fricke said. “We knew there was going to be a run and boy was it a run. It was a barrage … The most proud (moment) in this game was how they withstood that. They withstood it, and it didn’t get out of control.”

Kirkpatrick and Evanston sophomore Ben Ojala (17 points) went shot for shot for much of the second half, but Kirkpatrick’s streak lasted a bit longer.

After Kirkpatrick’s go-ahead bucket with under a minute to play, Jaegerskog blocked the Kits’ go-ahead attempt with 20 seconds to play. Houlihan nabbed the rebound and cleared, setting up Kirkpatrick’s final basket.

Trevs senior Max Vogel filled the stat sheet with 5 points and at least 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.

And plenty more were involved, even those who didn’t see the floor.

“It was really a team effort,” Kirkpatrick said. “Elton with his 23 points and all the offensive rebounds. Our scout team — we drilled all of their plays all week and had them memorized. That really helped and our coaches who spent hours on film. It was really a team win.”

New Trier concludes the regular season next Friday, Feb. 20, with a home matchup with Antioch. The IHSA Class 4A postseason begins the following week, and the Trevians carry the No. 5 seed in the Loyola Sectional. They’ll open the postseason hosting a regional game against No. 12 Payton Prep on Feb. 25.

DePaul Prep, Evanston, Loyola and St. Patrick are the sectional’s top four seeds.

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