Crockett, Orris keep Crete rolling

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:50AM

There is no question that Jamee Crockett is Crete-Monee's show. The 6-4 DePaul recruit boasts some impressive raw athletic ability. He has polished his skills every year and is developing into a near-dominant force on the court.

But point guard Michael Orris is the heart and soul of the team‹and

high-major colleges are starting to notice. The 6-3 junior was sensational in the second half of the No. 10 Warriors' 57-37 win over Thornwood in South Holland on Tuesday.

During one stretch of the fourth quarter he assisted on three consecutive baskets, then drained a three himself on the fourth possession.

"(Orris) is a pure point guard," Crete-Monee coach Matt Ryndak said. "He's selfless. Almost to a fault. I think I've raised my blood pressure trying to get him to shoot the ball."

Orris already has a host of offers from Missouri Valley schools, but

Illinois is now officially involved.

"They started talking to me after the McDipper Tournament," Orris said. "Things are definitely picking up in my recruiting."

Orris finished with 12 points and six assists. Crockett scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Those two players, along with 6-9 Greg Mays, should give Crete-Monee (12-2) a shot at advancing to Peoria this season.

"It means a lot to have (Orris) here," Crockett said. "Not many teams have a pure point guard like that to run things."

The Thunderbirds were actually leading midway through the second quarter, before going almost 12 minutes without a field goal.

The Warriors opened the third quarter with a 15-0 run to take control of the game.

"We're a tempo team," Ryndak said. "We had to start playing our tempo. I thought Mays had a great second half. He Deflected a lot of shots and brought a lot of energy."

Mays finished with 15 points and four rebounds and sophomore LaQuon

Treadwell contributed nine rebounds.

"We're a little banged up," Ryndak said. "Orris has had the flu and Jamee has a bad ankle and Kentrell King is out. We're kind of a MASH unit right now."

Junior Darrell Combs and Rodney Smith each scored 14 for Thornwood (6-7).

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