Boys Basketball: Proviso East ends Proviso West title drought

Updated: January 12, 2012 9:40PM

Keith Carter powered No. 2 Proviso East to a double-digit first-quarter lead and proved the difference Friday in a 68-55 victory over No. 13 New Trier in the title game of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament.

Carter scored 15 points and had three steals and two blocks as Proviso East captured its first Proviso West championship in 20 years.

“I just wanted to spark the offense at the start,” said Carter, the tournament MVP. He nailed a three-pointer and converted a three-point play as the Pirates (11-0) used a 9-1 run in seizing a 23-10 lead after the first quarter.

“I think Keith has solidified his status as one of the top point guards in the state with the way he played this tournament,” first-year Proviso East coach Donnie Boyce said.

New Trier settled down and stormed back behind the play of guard Jordan Thomas. He nailed two three-pointers, including one of the glass, in scoring 12 second-quarter points that pulled the Trevians (12-2) within 32-30 at the break.

“I told them at halftime there’s a reason both of these teams are here, and not to panic,” Boyce said.

Connor Boehm scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Trevians.

Carter and guards Paris Lee and Paris Burns helped the Pirates open the third quarter with a 10-2 run that extended the lead to 42-32. Lee scored 10 of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter. Junior forward Sterling Brown recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Brown scored consecutive baskets for a 48-38 Pirates’ lead late in the third. Thomas, who scored 15 points, ended the quarter with a runner in the lane that pulled the Trevians within 48-41.

The Pirates ended like they started, with a 14-6 run.

It is the team’s first tournament title since the 1991 team, whose members included Boyce, captured its second consecutive title. “It’s an amazing feeling to win it as a player and then come back in my first year as a coach and also do the same,” he said.

Austin Angel and David Cook scored 12 points each for New Trier.

“We’re a pretty good team,” New Trier coach Scott Fricke said. “We just allowed too many easy baskets at the start and the end of the game.”

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