Returning to basketball was hardly a difficult sales for Colon Hayes.
Nevertheless, his crystal lake South coach and team companions lived on him, hoping that the 6-Foot-5, 205-Pound forward, who took his junior year to focus on football, would return to this season.
There was no need to assure Hayes. And now he is an integral part of the winning team of gates in school history.
South (31-3) faced the Depall College Prep (32-2) at 6 pm on Monday, which is now in Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supercompactal in Arina. This is the second superstitional appearance of the gates, to join the 1983 team.
“I have always loved basketball,” Hayes said. “I took the year holiday to focus on football last year and I regret it very much. I have a lot of friends who are playing in this team and I decided to come back. This was the best decision I made throughout the year.
“I was sure that I was coming back, they all really wanted to come back to me. I am real happy I come back. ,
What did Hayes do to the basketball team in summer, between his various football camps and obligations. Point guard AJ Demirov Hoops had a consistent players in Hayes’ ears.
“During the summer and football season I was begging him to play because I knew we could be good, but I think it was an additional piece that we needed,” said Demirov. “I was like every practice, ‘Hey, cotton, are you ready for the basketball season?” He used to laugh about it. He returned and is a big part of how we have been able to play this season. ,
The average average steals 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and 56. Their energy and aggression is important for protecting the 1-3–1 region of the south.
Hayes is at the top, 6-5 tony santareli and 6-6 James Carlson on the wings, 6-8 Christian Rohde in the middle and 5–11 on the bottom. Gaters were in prime form on Friday night as they forced the 15 first half turnover against Caneland in a 69–38 win for the sectional championship of Kanland.
In typical South Fashion, Raksha grabbed the turnover and made a fast-break bucket at the other end, making it all easy.
“He is a contestant,” said Matt Leopage, the coach of the gates. “A man with his athleticism perfectly determines his size at the top of 1-3-1. Their energy, their athleticism leads the aggressive side.
“He has played his best basketball in the last two, three weeks. When it happens, it is very difficult to defeat us. ,
As the season progressed, Hayes around the hop became an aggressive threat.
“I really started relying on my peers,” Hayes said. “Christians are great with near the bottom and AJ plays all the time. I run the floor best and whatever I can do. ,
Hayes may have saved the season of gaters in its Carry-Grove regional semi-finals against Priri Ridge. He overtook 50–46 with 39 seconds remaining in regulation. Dameirov made two free throw, then Hayes made two more with 22 seconds to tie the score and force overtime.
I have a lot of friends who are playing in this team and I decided to come back. This was the best decision I made throughout the year. ,
– Crystal Lake South Forward Coleton Hayes
Hayes held 46 passes for 801 yards and 10 touchdowns during the football season and a Northwest Herald All-Area Second-Team selection. He plans to walk in Missouri as a wide receiver.
The South may face the best team, which has seen all the season with Depall Prep, which suffered its only loss in double overtime on the homewood-phospermor, 57–46, and general community, 59-58. Both of those teams have class 4A sectional champions.
The Ram is trained by former Depall and Gordon Tech Star Tom Clansmidt and has allowed only 84 points in four postson games. He has been held twice to Postsen opponents of less than 20 points.
Gaters are also defensively hard and it begins with the front front.
“We let him see what he sees and examines the ball or passing lane,” said the lepage. “That’s that it is really good. He is just growing and getting better.”
Hayes said that South wants to slow down the aggressive plans of the teams.
“We push the ball a lot on crime,” he said. “We are trying to slow down crimes, living in front of people and block the passing lane. If I can do this, we are in very good shape.
“I have played a lot of games throughout my life and I am very long. We have a humble team and decided to put a good athlete on the top and allow everyone to play. ,
Dameirov is grateful that they can add another big man to the gates to their mixture.
“Now that he has come back, he says,” I wish I had played last year, “said Demirov. “His length and the way he is very aggressive is really helpful. On the glass, he is an animal. ,