Curie’s senior class propels Condors to boys basketball city title

By Michael Wojtychiw

The Curie Condors have become one of the more consistent boys basketball programs in the city.

Making their third consecutive appearance in the city championship game and fourth since 2022, the Condors were looking to defeat Lincoln Park, which was making its first appearance in the city title game since the early 1900’s, when the school was known as North Division. The team last won a city title in 1904, 122 years ago, nearly a decade before the formation of the Chicago Public League, when it defeated Austin.

After dropping a tight game to Kenwood in last year’s title game by two points, Curie got back on its city-title winning ways, taking down the Lions 59-50 for the program’s fourth city title, all under coach Mike Oliver.

Like it has been for much of the year, Curie was led by All-City guard Justin Oliver, who finished with 15 points and eight assists. Eight of those points came in the fourth quarter, when he helped the Condors break open what was a three-point lead to double digits.

“Justin is just a good kid,” Mike Oliver said. “Special kid. Every now and then we get these type of dogs come to Curie. Justin is who Justin is. He came in with no name, he (leaves) out first team All-City.

“He’s a quiet killer and that’s what Curie (does). We just sneak up on people and grind it out.”

One thing that the Condors missed in last season’s title game was size to step into the paint, pull down rebounds, alter shots.

The arrival of Keith Collins, a transfer from Hyde Park, changed that this season.

And he stepped up in a big way, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds while coming off of the bench. Kendall Holliday added 13 points and 11 boards.

“I told people at the beginning of the year when they asked what we (were) gonna do with (Collins), I said we’re saving him for these types of games where we need him to be the airplane out there,” Mike Oliver said. “Just be big, cause havoc. And any points he (gives) us, that would be a bonus.

“We needed him for the defense. That’s where we came up short last year. We had no one to rebound and play good defense in the paint.’’

The win was even more special for Oliver, as he was able to celebrate it with his son, a senior on the team.

‘‘This one is real special because these are the guys [my son] came in with, and their goal was to be sophomore champs and city champs,’’ Mike Oliver said. ‘‘They accomplished it.’’

Senior guard Jaylen Dickerson and sophomore Alvin Robinson led the Lions (20-8) with 17 points.

Kenwood 56, Hyde Park 49

The Broncos bounced back from a semifinal-loss two days prior by defeating their neighborhood rivals for third place. Damari Stephens scored 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while Jordan Walker scored 16 and Prince McCord 14. Amare Leflore led the Thunderbirds with 13 points.

Photos by Brandon Parker/OSA

Curie vs. Lincoln Park