The Public League boys’ basketball championship game is now played on the big stage, at the United Center, but in almost every other way it’s been diminished in recent years. Winning the crown used to mean an automatic berth in the state quarterfinals, but city coaches and players complained–rightfully–that the limiting of Chicago to one elite-eight representative was a racist policy of the Illinois High School Association, an attempt to appease suburban and downstate schools by preventing city teams from dominating the state tournament. The policy was changed four years ago, and now city teams compete in regionals and sectionals that include the surrounding suburbs. The Public League could place three teams in next weekend’s final four in Peoria–but where the prestige of the city title is concerned, it’s been a case of “be careful what you wish for.” The Public League tournament was moved up to February, and though the winner can still claim bragging rights as the city’s best team, it’s a ceremonial title. The vanquished pooh-pooh their losses and focus on March madness, and the city champ begins at square one in the regionals with everyone else. Since the Public League lost the automatic downstate bid, no city champ has made it past the sectionals.
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Simeon led 28-13 at the intermission, and Rose wasted no time in the second half sinking the dagger. He drove for a nice banked layin, then speared a pass outside and took the ball straight in for a whirling windmill dunk. Right away he stole the ball back and took it in for another jam, a facial over Washington star Mario Little. It was 34-13, and the crowd was finally roaring. When Rose added a lovely floater in the lane to keep the score doubled at 44-22, PA announcer Jimmy E. Smith Sr. crooned, “Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose, Derrrrrrick Rose.” In the fourth quarter, as Washington scrambled to cut into the lead, Rose got back on defense to make a couple of flying blocks against the backboard. “Triple double? He could get a quadruple double!” gushed a kid behind me. For the record, Rose finished with a mere single double, on 25 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three blocks, as Simeon coasted to a 55-40 victory, but it was one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen in a Public League final. A scout for suburban Saint Joseph sitting just down the row apparently thought so too; he got up after the third quarter and walked out, having seen enough.
