Boys Basketball: New Trier brushes aside finals week distractions

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New Trier senior David Bragiel looks to pass the ball as Evanston senior Josh Irving plays defense during a varsity basketball game at New Trier High School in Winnetka on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:25AM

It’s been a heck of a stretch for New Trier forward Steven Cook.

The 6-foot-4 junior committed to play college basketball at Princeton, beginning in the fall of 2013. Then he scored 20 points — with his future college coach visiting Winnetka to watch him play — as the Trevians blasted Buffalo Grove 57-33 on Jan. 16.

Throw in midterm exams, not exactly a blow-off exercise for someone headed to Princeton, and the snowstorm wreaking havoc on the team’s Friday commute to Niles West, and you have one tired young man ready for a break.

Before he could rest, however, Cook played an integral part in New Trier’s 67-43 pasting of conference cellar-dweller Niles West on Friday.

“It’s been a stressful last couple weeks with finals. I studied probably 25 or 30 hours over the last two weeks, but I felt like we came to play (Friday),” Cook said. “We put all the stress behind us even though we (had) just finished (finals). We had fun, and we came to play. I think we got done what we needed to get done. We played great as a team. With the storm, finals to get through and all that, I think we did a great job.”

Cook had three blocks in the first quarter, but the Wolves (2-13, 0-6 CSL South) kept it close. It was 18-18 with just over six minutes to go in the second, when New Trier (17-2, 6-0 CSL South) finally exerted its will. The Trevs ripped off a 21-4 run to end the half.

The lead climbed as high as 23 points on multiple occasions in the third, and then the reserves finished off the rout while Cook and Co. got some well-deserved rest.

New Trier used crisp passing and a strikingly efficient transition offense to win its 11th game in 12 tries since mid-December. Reid Berman was the only starter not to score in double digits, but he delivered a team-high six assists. Connor Boehm led the offense with 18 points, Cook added 14, Austin Angel scored 12, and David Bragiel chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

“Our defense was tenacious, and our defense is really what fuels our offense,” Cook said. “I think it all starts in practice. We’ve been going short lately to stay fresh, so we go really hard for an hour or hour and a half. We get a lot done, and that really prepares us. It’s also our coaching staff, preparing us with personnel, and that helps us. Great teammates and a lot of effort, that’s what sparked us.”

New Trier added an 82-51 domination of Taft — one of Chicago’s better teams — on Saturday to complete a 3-0 stretch. The Trevs resume play with a trip to Glenbrook South Friday night.

“We have a long season to go, but I like where we are right now,” said New trier coach Scott Fricke. “I like the way the kids are working in practice. Our kids are fully intent on scouting reports, and I just like our focus at this point in the season.”