By Joey Gelman
After an exhilarating school-wide pep rally featuring Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday at Whitney Young High School, the boys basketball team and their hundreds of fans headed down to Champaign, IL with their sights set on their first state title since the 2016-2017 season.
And while the Dolphins came within one game of their ultimate goal, they had a tremendous amount to be proud of all season long and during their trip downstate.
On Friday morning, the Dolphins had their first test against Barrington High School, where the sharp-shooting of Will Grudzinski (finished with 24 points, 4-9 from three) helped give the Broncos a 31-25 lead over Whitney Young.
After halftime adjustments, the Dolphins came out on fire in the third quarter with a 10-0 run and a defensive clamp down on Grudzinski that saw them hold on to win a close contest 51-47, punching their ticket to the State Title game.
“Any time you have an opportunity to play the last game on the last day of the high school season, the word you would have to use is gratifying ,” said Whitney Young Head Coach Tryone Slaughter. “ I think when we look back at the journey we have traveled this year, we wouldn’t be here today but for these men and their effort they put out every day.”
This second half surge was guided by five of Whitney Young’s players including Senior Xavier Amos who finished with 10 points despite almost not playing due to migraines. Young’s Daniel Johnson [in for the injured Marcus Pilgrim] added 10 points of his own as the group of core players helped propel the team to the title game.
“Having him [Johnson] on the floor is huge for us”, Slaughter said. “I used to tell people, when he was out and we were hoping to get him back. For us it was getting a lottery pick back. We were getting a bonafide superstar coming off our bench. He’s been exceptional .”
Later that evening, Whitney Young learned that they would be facing #1 Glenbard West in the title game, after they beat Bolingbrook 77–47. Young and Glenbard West jockied back and forth between a preseason ranking of #1 and #2 and the Hilltoppers proved any doubters wrong after securing the #1 seed, by going 36-1 in the 2021-2022 season (including playoffs) before matching up against the Dolphins in the title game.
Earlier this season, Glenbard West defeated Whitney Young 74-59 in a top tier non-conference game, so the stage was set for a rematch.
Glenbard West started out fast in the championship game, securing a 5-0 lead over the Dolphins and finished with a 25-16 first half lead. The Hilltoppers precision passing, movement of the ball and incredible three-point shooting gave them the edge in the first half.
As Young looked to rebound in the second half, Glenbard West continued their impressive performance. While senior Xavier Amos led the way for the Dolphins in his final game with 14 points, the Hilltoppers proved to be too much for the Dolphins.
Glenbard West began the second half with a 17-4 scoring run , led by Braden Huff (19 points) and Paxten Warden (21 points) that ultimately saw the Hilltoppers claim their first-ever State Title with a 56-34 victory over Whitney Young.
“It’s always tough when you lose, but for the guys that I coach, I don’t have tears because they did everything we asked them to do,” Slaughter said. “ I don’t question the fight these guys have. I’d go back in the foxhole with them any other time any other day. I love these guys, couldn’t be a better group of kids. I’m happy for what we’ve done.”
Junior Guard Dalen Davis will hopefully have another chance at winning a state championship during his senior season next year, but is incredibly grateful and thankful for the special team and season that 2021-2022 had to offer.
“ I just want to congratulate this team, and this group of seniors,” Davis said. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. I love these guys. I think the pain I’m feeling from losing the state championship game , I just want to bring it back to the younger guys to motivate them to do better so we can come back here next year.”
The school-level support for the 2021-2022 team was palpable and even after the loss, Coach Slaughter understood just how much that support propelled them to the state championship.
“It was a groundswell of support from our student body,” Slaughter said. “These guys got swept up by them. We could not have done any of this without their support and these players.”
And even though the Dolphins finished as runner-ups, Slaughter knows that Chicago and Chicago Public League basketball will be back for another state -run soon enough.
“Chicago will always be back,” Slaughter said. “Chicago basketball, the Public League, is still the pinnacle of basketball. And if you look at what’s happening in the Public League , it’s only going to get better, because all of the resources and drivers are in place for it to get better. And here’s the thing that makes us always good, are these guys right here, the players.”
The Whitney Young Dolphins finished the 2021-2022 season with a 25-10 record, a Chicago Public League City Championship and a 4A Runner-Up State Finish. While there is some pain now, as Slaughter said, the Dolphins will be back at the state title game sooner rather than later, it’s just a matter of time.
