Kenwood Achieves One Season Goal, But Falls Short of Downstate Trip

By Dominic Scianna

Joe Mason’s first season as head coach of the Kenwood Academy boys basketball team was an interesting experience to say the least.

He took over a Broncos program ripe with talent and set reachable goals from the start. Kenwood had never won a city title in boys basketball, and never advanced past the Illinois High School supersectional to vie for a state crown.

Ranked among the top three teams in the city in preseason rankings by the Chicago Sun-Times, and holding the #1 spot for most of the year, Kenwood compiled a 30-plus win season (31-2) behind the stellar play of super sophomore Devin Cleveland, and senior stalwarts Aleks Alston, Amari Edwards, T. J. Seals, and Chris Watkins.

In order for Kenwood to take the next step in their growth, winning a Chicago Public League (CPL) city title would be the first hurdle. That accomplishment was checked off the list Feb. 15 in defeating rival Curie (last season’s CPL boys basketball city champion) at UIC’s Credit Union1 Arena by a score of 67-65.

And, just three weeks later, the two CPL combatants would meet again in the sectional final on March 7 at Hinsdale Central. Kenwood would again come out on top, winning another nail-biter 69-65 to advance to the UIC Supersectional.

“These guys have been the best team (Kenwood) in the state this year for a reason,” said Curie coach Mike Oliver, who has amassed 550+ wins in his career to place him among the best CPS coaches in history. “They have everything they need and you have to take your hat off to them (for the great season they’ve had).”

Goal two was now firmly in sight after the Curie win.

A date with the Rich Township Raptors to avenge their only loss of the season in a high-stakes game to advance to their first ever state finals.

“We’re excited to have a chance to play Rich (Township) again,” said Mason, after his sectional victory over Curie. “We had a tough sectional (in having to beat Simeon and Curie). It was a gauntlet and we survived it.”

The Raptors (26-8) of Rich Township defeated the Broncos in a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish in late December by a score of 87-83. Kenwood would go on to defeat its next 19 opponents after that loss, and go on an impressive run to earn an undefeated 12-0 mark to win the premier CPL Red Shield conference championship in the process.

On March 10, the rematch was renewed with Rich Township before an overflow crowd at UIC.

An extra period would be needed to decide the victor.

Mason’s Broncos would fall 70-65 to Rich in overtime, ending Kenwood’s season and the dreams of its state title aspirations.

Edwards led the Broncos with 23 points complemented by the strong performances of sophomores Damari Stephens (15 points) and Cleveland (14 points) in defeat. Senior Al Brooks Jr. of Rich Township was too much for the Broncos to handle, pouring in 27 points and pulling down 15 rebounds in the win.

“This game had a state championship feel to it with the atmosphere and intense play,” said Lou Adams, Rich Township head coach and former Orr High School coach for more than 19 seasons, winning three straight IHSA state championships from 2017-2019.

Adams knows what it takes to win it all, and sees Kenwood as an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

“I owe a lot to the Chicago Public League. It’s been very good to me down through the years,” said Adams. “And this team (Kenwood) has what it takes. Tough defeats are going to happen and it takes time. They have a great program. They’ll be alright.”

Not to be forgotten in this whirlwind of a season were some top performances by this core group, especially Seals 26-point, 17-rebound performance in the sectional championship to will his team to victory over Curie.

Oliver called him a “man among boys” that night and unstoppable. Seals acknowledged on that night that Kenwood had “come together as a team and had locked in.”

That was never more evident in Kenwood’s play as the year progressed during the regular season, into the city championships, and then the state playoffs.

As for Mason, the future still looks bright for his team after the heartbreak of an IHSA super sectional loss.

But even in defeat, the losses can provide clarity for what’s ahead like the emergence of a talented sophomore class in Cleveland and Stephens, who will mature into leaders as juniors next season.

“This experience (this season) has got us prepared for the next step,” Mason said.

The next step indeed, as year two in Coach Mason’s tenure for the 2025-26 season will, without a doubt, bring higher expectations and intrigue, as the defending CPL boys basketball city champions look to repeat another banner campaign and reach the elusive state finals plateau that they have long coveted.

Supersectional Photos

By Brandon Parker/OSA