SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama anotó 27 puntos, capturó 10 rebotes y puso cuatro tapas por los Spurs de San Antonio, quienes remontaron un déficit de 25 puntos para vencer el viernes 117-112 a los Clippers de Los Ángeles.

Kawhi Leonard sumó 30 puntos y nueve rebotes por Los Ángeles, que vio cortada una racha de tres victorias consecutivas.

San Antonio (46-17) ha ganado 14 de sus últimos 15 partidos y es segundo en la Conferencia Oeste.

Tras provocar un triple fallado de Leonard, Wembanyama se desmarcó para una volcada sin marca que les dio a los Spurs una ventaja de 113-112 con 16 segundos por jugar. El alero de los Clippers, Nicolas Batum, perdió el balón en la siguiente posesión cuando su pie cruzó la línea de banda al sacar.

Stephon Castle sentenció el triunfo al capturar el rebote de su propio tiro libre fallado y convertir una bandeja con 1 segundo restante.

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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/victor-wembanyama-y-spurs-remontan-dficit-de-25-puntos-para-vencer-a-clippers-117-112/ 

The failure of colleges of education to teach behavior management is creating PK-12 schools that, through no fault of their own, are in chaos. This chaos is leading to schools churning out anti-social people.

Something must be done, and it must be done right now.

Behavior management isn’t something that you can just know about, it’s something you have to be able to do. Teaching is a complicated and difficult profession, but proper behavior management should be seen as more of a trade. Carpentry might be a good analogy. You can’t just know about building a table. To build a table, you must train under a master carpenter who has built many excellent tables. The carpenter shows you the specific and correct ways to build a table, you practice and hone your craft under their tutelage, and eventually you can build a table.

You would not want to learn how to build a table from someone who has merely written a research paper on the effects that nails and screws have on wood, and then have that researcher say to you, “Good luck building a table! You’ll figure it out!”

That would be stupid.

And yet, that’s what we do to teachers when we fail to teach them behavior management in college. Every teacher knows this, and nothing is being done to correct this problem, even though any teacher can tell you that behavior management is the single most important element necessary to teach kids.

To fill this void created by colleges of education, schools have been given the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. It is not a program, just a vehicle with the potential for being a fantastic tool for educators to build positive school environments for kids.

Put in the simplest terms, PBIS calls for educators to make sure students who meet expectations get things that other students don’t get. That’s great, because that’s how life works: People who do the right thing and work hard and treat people well and follow the rules do get things that others don’t get.

HOWEVER, that “thing” should not be a reward in the form of a tangible object such as a sticker, a toy or a ticket to be turned in later to get stickers or toys, because that’s NOT how life works.

Giving these rewards is logistically difficult, expensive for the teacher, and insulting for the kid. It also goes against the moral code of a vast majority of teachers. Most teachers believe that kids should not be given tangible prizes for acting like decent people. In addition, it is nearly impossible to hand out enough rewards to create enough reinforcement to correct serious or extremely chronic negative behaviors. Unfortunately, even though most proponents of the PBIS framework (myself included) do not want it to be used this way, this is how PBIS is used in a vast majority of schools and classrooms.

BUT IT DOESN’T NEED TO BE!!!!!

Yes, kids meeting expectations need to get things that others don’t get, but it should not be a tangible reward. They need to “get” what we all get when we do good things: A BETTER LIFE!

The way to do this is for schools to create a constant, unchanging reality whereby kids get what they really want: recognition for positive actions, a feeling of control over their environment, and avoidance of situations that they don’t like. This will vary by grade level, and this list could be nearly endless, but when kids meet expectations, they need to “get”

To line up first
To eat lunch first
To have extra time to socialize
To go to recess first
Verbal recognition (noticed, not praised) at least 100 times per day
To “avoid” their schoolwork by getting it done so that they can do something else that they’d rather do through a procedure called Real-World Workshop
Cool jobs
To do fun activities
To control where they sit
To control who they work with

Doesn’t this all look significantly more reinforcing than just being handed a little piece of paper with a stamp on it? One way looks a lot closer to real life and the other way looks a lot closer to how we train seals.

To create this constant, unchanging reality, teachers need people to show them how to create this who have already created it themselves, the way a carpenter has made many, many tables. Someone who says that they know about behavior management, but who has never done behavior management will not be able to do this.

Educators must be taught how to “do PBIS” in this way with explicit strategy and procedural instruction, taught by master carpenters! Whether or not we can do this will determine whether or not we can produce positive, pro-social citizens who can make our country better instead of worse.

____

Behavioral consultant Scott Ervin, M.Ed, is a parent and former teacher and principal. He is the author of “The Classroom Behavior Manual: How to Build Relationships, Share Control, and Teach Positive Behaviors,” published by ASCD. More information can be found at www.behavioralleadership.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/the-kid-whisperer-behavior-management/ 

Whether he’s cracking a joke or single-handedly breaking a press, senior point guard TJ Tate has a calming influence on his Marist teammates.

And when the RedHawks really needed someone to lower the tension in the biggest moment of the season, it’s no surprise that Tate was up for that Friday night. He drove to the rim and scored a crucial basket in the third quarter that ended a 12-0 run for Homewood-Flossmoor.

“I wanted to calm things down,” Tate said. “We were starting to speed up a little bit. I just wanted to slow us down. That was a big basket. After that, we just settled down.

“We just had to play at our own pace, not let them speed us up. We all came together and calmed down.”

With Tate navigating the way, Marist retook control and broke a decades-long drought, winning the second sectional title in program history and first since 1980-81 with a 55-49 victory over the Vikings in the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional championship game.

Charles Barnes poured in 31 points to lead the second-seeded RedHawks (30-5). NC State football recruit Stephen Brown finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Kendall Meyers added 10 points and Tate chipped in with six.

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) throws a pass against Homewood-Flossmoor during the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

Marist advanced to play at 7 p.m. Monday in the Class 4A Illinois State Supersectional at CEFCU Arena in Normal against Peoria Richwoods (26-7), which beat Edwardsville 59-58 to win the Rock Island Sectional.

“This feels awesome,” Tate said. “We haven’t won a sectional in so many years. Seeing everybody so happy, seeing everybody cry, it’s awesome.

“We’re not done yet.”

Danny Ruffin scored 23 points for top-seeded H-F (29-4), which had an 11-game winning streak snapped. John Brown IV finished with 14 points and Jeffrey Cade added 12.

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) brings the ball up the court as Homewood-Flossmoor’s Darrius Hawkins Jr. (4) defends during the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

The Vikings trailed 43-28 at halftime but fought back in the third quarter behind a big 3-pointer from Cade and four quick points from Ruffin. That sparked a 12-0 run, cutting the deficit to 48-45.

Tate came through with Marist’s first basket in over four minutes to stop the spurt.

“That was huge,” Barnes said. “TJ is our floor general. We believe in him in those moments to slow the game down for us and make crucial plays.

“If you ask anybody about TJ, he’s one of a kind. There’s not another TJ.”

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) goes up for a layup while guard by Homewood-Flossmoor’s John Brown IV (14) during the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

Marist coach Brian Hynes also spoke on Tate’s uniqueness.

“When TJ is done with basketball, he should be a stand-up comedian,” Hynes said. “He’s one of those kids that doesn’t know how funny he is. He wears goofy outfits to practice. He thinks it looks good. It looks terrible.

“He’s such a nice kid. I’ve never heard him raise his voice. And in the biggest games, he comes through.”

Tate considers himself a pass-first point guard. He doesn’t always take many shots. But when his team needs a spark offensively, he’s confident he can provide that.

“Everyone on the court can score and I love getting everyone involved,” Tate said. “But I feel like if I want to go get a basket, I can.”

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) works the ball up the court past Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jayden McDonald (15) during the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

In addition to producing the key shot, Tate steered the ship home for the RedHawks. His ball-handling down the stretch was vital as the Vikings swarmed with pressure.

Marist let H-F get no closer than seven points in the fourth quarter.

“TJ’s our one-man press-breaker and he never turns the ball over,” Hynes said.

And now he, and his teammates are part of history.

“Before the game, we were looking at the banner and the 81 up there and coach said, ‘We’re changing that banner — we’re putting a 26 up there,’” Barnes said.

Indeed, they are. In large part because Tate always provides calm amongst the chaos.

“Breaking the press, I’ve been doing that for a while,” Tate said. “Dribbling through traffic, that’s fun.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/tj-tate-marist-homewood-flossmoor-basketball/ 

ATHENS, Ohio — Miami (Ohio) finished the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division I men’s basketball, with Eian Elmer scoring a career-high 32 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a gritty 110-108 overtime victory over Ohio on Friday night.

Peter Suder scored five of his 13 points in overtime for Miami (31-0, 18-0 Mid-American), which became the first team to complete an unblemished regular season since Gonzaga in 2021.

Trey Perry added 21 points and Brant Byers scored 15 for the RedHawks, who topped Akron for the league title.

Despite its magical season, Miami might need to win the conference tournament next week to guarantee a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (15-16, 9-9) with a career-high 37 points. Javan Simmons scored 30 and Aidan Hadaway added 20. The Bobcats lost three straight to end the regular season.

Miami had a bumpy stretch over its previous dozen games with four one-possession wins and two others that went to overtime. This time, the RedHawks needed some late heroics again to win in Athens for the first time in 15 years.

Simmons’ basket off a missed shot from teammate Kirr Kuany gave Ohio a 108-107 lead with 26 seconds left in OT. Suder sank two free throws to put Miami ahead, and Justin Kirby made another for the final margin.

Paveletzke missed two shots in the final 5 seconds that could have given Ohio the lead, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Miami is the top seed in the conference tournament and will play in the opening game of the quarterfinals Thursday in Cleveland. Ohio’s seeding will be determined after the completion of MAC games this weekend.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/miami-ohio-basketball-perfect-regular-season/ 

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker anotó 18 de sus 32 puntos en el tercer cuarto, y los Suns de Phoenix resistieron para vencer 118-116 a los Palicans de Nueva Orleans el viernes por la noche.

Jalen Green sumó 25 para los Suns, que llegaron a tener una ventaja de 14 en la segunda mitad antes de que los Pelicans recortaran la diferencia a un punto.

Grayson Allen encestó dos tiros libres con 9,8 segundos por jugar para darle a los Suns una ventaja de 116-113. Zion Williamson convirtió uno de dos y Booker anotó un par con 7,8 segundos restantes. Herb Jones anotó con cinco segundos por jugar, pero los Suns pudieron dejar correr el reloj hasta el final.

Trey Murphy III encabezó a Nueva Orleans con 22 unidades. Williamson terminó con 19 tantos y 10 rebotes, y Saddiq Bey también aportó 19 puntos para los Pelicans.

Oso Ighodaro, titular en lugar del lesionado Mark Williams, registró 13 puntos y seis rebotes antes de salir por faltas con 1:08 por jugar. Allen tuvo 12 unidades y ocho asistencias, y Collin Gillespie también anotó 12 para Phoenix.

Ambos equipos jugaban por segunda noche consecutiva. Los Pelicans ganaron el jueves por la noche en Sacramento, mientras que los Suns perdieron en casa ante Chicago.

El partido tuvo 63 tiros libres; New Orleans lanzó 37 y Phoenix intentó 26.

___

Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/booker-estalla-en-el-tercer-cuarto-y-los-suns-aguantan-para-vencer-118-116-a-los-pelicans/ 

Aaron Judge hit a two-run home run and Brice Turang had three hits and four RBIs to lead the United States to a 15-5 win over Brazil in its World Baseball Classic opener Friday night.

With one out and one on in the first, Judge connected off Bo Takahashi at Houston’s Daikin Park.

Lucas Ramirez — with his father, 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, in attendance — hit two home runs for Brazil. He cut the lead to 2-1 with his leadoff blast, and his solo shot in the eighth pulled Brazil within 8-5.

At 20 years, 49 days, he became the youngest player in WBC history with a multihomer game.

Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the fifth to push the Americans’ lead to 4-1. Turang cleared the bases with his double to left two pitches later to make it 7-1.

Brazil is in the WBC for just the second time and first since 2013. The team fell to 0-4 all time in the tournament after losing to Japan, Cuba and China in 2013.

Another highlight for Brazil came when 17-year-old high school senior Joseph Contreras got Judge to ground into a bases-loaded double play to end the second inning. Contreras, the youngest player in the WBC this year, is the son of pitcher José Contreras, who played 11 MLB seasons.

Lucas Rojo hit an RBI single for Brazil in the seventh before a two-run shot by Victor Mascai off Michael Wacha cut the lead to 7-4.

Bryce Harper’s RBI single got things going in the ninth as the U.S. tacked on seven more runs. The Americans walked 17 times and forced Brazil to throw 221 pitches.

On Saturday, Brazil faces Italy and the U.S. plays Britain.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/wbc-us-brazil-opener/ 

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am invited to a black-tie wedding.

Related Articles

Can I wear a dark suit to this or do I need a tuxedo? If I wear a tuxedo, do I need a cummerbund? If I wear the tuxedo, do I need tuxedo pants or can I wear black pants? If I wear a suit, what style tie is in: wide, slim or medium?

–George D.

Dear George: If the wedding is black-tie, that customarily means a traditional black tuxedo with all the trimmings. A visit to any tuxedo rental place will outfit you with everything you need and that means the suit (usually with satin lapels on the jacket and a satin or grosgrain stripe down the pants leg), a black bow tie, a crisp white shirt (usually with cufflinks), black shoes and, yes, a cummerbund or waistcoat to cover the pants waist, with the advantage of also minimizing the stomach area.

My best guess is that some men will ignore this and show up in black or even blue business suits with a traditional tie. That isn’t actually “black-tie” but they’ll do it anyhow. I don’t recommend it but they won’t kick you out of the reception if you go that route.

All of the above is written with an asterisk (*) because fashion terms are mutating. A more “casual” black-tie event (this, by the way, is a contradiction since “black-tie” by definition is formal dress wear) would mean a dark suit and a white shirt and muted tie.

Celebrities at black-tie events — like the Oscars — wear all sorts of getups, with gym shoes, wild jewelry and suits in every imaginable color, sometimes with no shirt at all. If you don’t want to stick out or are not a celebrity, stick with tradition, George.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: My wife is always cold when sleeping in the winter. She loves flannel sheets because they aren’t cold to the touch when you’re first getting in them, like traditional sheets or silk sheets. However, she doesn’t like that the flannel sheets “grab” her PJs and they get twisted up during sleep. She tried silk PJs, but they aren’t warm enough. I tried finding flannel-lined silk PJs, but have not been successful.

Do you or your readers have any ideas of where I could find flannel-lined silk PJs? P.S.: She tried a down comforter, but got too hot under that.

–Mike H.

Dear Mike: I wasn’t very optimistic when I started my quest for the perfect PJs for your wife. But I located a few options that might work.

The Vermont Country Store (vermontcountrystore.com) has satin pajamas (not silk like you asked for) lined in “warm and cozy brushed cotton” ($69.95 and up). Amazon has fleece/plush polyester and cotton/polyester PJs that might be an option, but your wife would have to be the judge about the bunching issue. They start at $25.

Angelic Readers 1

Many readers offered similar solutions to the problem of putting on turtlenecks and clothes with small neck openings without disrupting hair and makeup. Sandi O. recommends a silky scarf over face and head when struggling to preserve her ‘do when putting on a turtleneck: ”It may have mashed the hairdo slightly but basically left it intact.” Pat S. uses a large silky scarf placed over her head and face then gently pulls on her top: “I’ve used this method for years to save my hairdo and to keep makeup off my clothes.” Anna M. recommends a scarf or even a dry-cleaning bag. Others with the scarf tip include Candi, Kathy H., Deanna H. and Lynn K.

Angelic Readers 2

Val S. writes: “For your reader Vanessa D. who was disappointed when her elderly aunt was clearly not thrilled with Vanessa’s gift of a rare antique wine glass —identical to a treasured one that her aunt had broken — the key word is that the recipient is ‘elderly.’ I am in my mid 70s and at the point where I am trying to pass on the items. Some have been in the family for decades, handed down from person to person. Her aunt might have been happier with an outing to a favorite venue for lunch or dinner and time spent together.”

(Send your questions and rants – on style, shopping, fashion, makeup and beauty – to answerangelellen@gmail.com.)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/black-tie-wedding/ 

DENVER (AP) — OG Anunoby anotó 34 puntos para guiar el viernes a los Knicks de Nueva York hacia una paliza de 142-103 sobre unos Nuggets de Denver que perdieron al base estelar Jamal Murray por un esguince de tobillo justo cuando su quinteto titular volvía a estar completo.

Josh Hart sumó 18 puntos y el dominicano Karl-Anthony Towns aportó 19 unidades y 17 rebotes por los Knicks, que iniciaron una gira de cinco visitas con buen pie. Sus titulares se tomaron el cuarto periodo libre para disfrutar de la inusual paliza.

La derrota en casa por 39 puntos igualó el récord indeseable de los Nuggets, establecido contra Chicago en 1998.

Nikola Jokic lideró a Denver con 38 puntos, pero los Nuggets sufrieron su peor derrota de la temporada —tanto en el marcador como en la cancha— con la lesión de Murray.

Aaron Gordon (isquiotibiales) jugó por primera vez desde el 23 de enero y Cam Johnson regresó tras un esguince de tobillo, lo que le dio a los Nuggets su alineación titular original por primera vez desde el 12 de noviembre.

Duró poco.

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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/knicks-aplastan-142-103-a-nuggets-que-pierden-al-base-murray-por-lesin/ 

Por ROB MAADDI

El ala defensiva Maxx Crosby, elegido cinco veces al Pro Bowl, se dirige a los Ravens de Baltimore, dijeron a The Associated Press dos personas con conocimiento del canje la noche del viernes.

Ambas personas hablaron bajo condición de anonimato porque el acuerdo no puede anunciarse sino hasta que comience el nuevo año de la NFL la próxima semana.

Los Raiders de Las Vegas recibirán dos selecciones de primera ronda de los Ravens, incluida la 14ta global en el draft de la NFL del próximo mes, indicó una de las personas.

Crosby, de 28 años, sumó 10 capturas y un récord personal de 28 tacleadas para pérdida de yardas la temporada pasada. Ha alcanzado doble dígito de capturas en cuatro ocasiones en sus siete campañas.

Baltimore, que tendrá un entrenador en jefe de primer año en Jesse Minter, está en modo de ganar ahora con el quarterback Lamar Jackson, tres veces All-Pro. Crosby representa un impulso importante para una defensa que terminó empatada en el 28vo puesto de la liga en capturas, con apenas 30 la temporada pasada.

Es el más reciente cazamariscales de élite en cambiar de equipo por un precio elevado. Micah Parsons fue traspasado de Dallas a Green Bay el año pasado por dos selecciones de primera ronda y el tackle defensivo Kenny Clark, elegido tres veces al Pro Bowl.

La última vez que los Ravens no tuvieron una selección de primera ronda fue en 2012.

Durante mucho tiempo, Crosby sostuvo que quería jugar toda su carrera con los Raiders, pero su frustración con las dificultades de la organización era evidente incluso antes de un final turbulento de la temporada pasada, cuando el equipo decidió colocarlo en la lista de reservas lesionados con dos partidos por disputar debido a una lesión de rodilla.

Crosby, que se enorgullece de no salir del campo pese a jugar con diversas lesiones durante gran parte de su carrera, abandonó las instalaciones del equipo después de que le informaron la decisión.

El entrenador de primer año de los Raiders, Klint Kubiak, y el gerente general John Spytek habían dicho que querían que Crosby permaneciera en el equipo. Spytek señaló en el combine de cazatalentos de la NFL que esperaba que Crosby estuviera en la alineación cuando el equipo abriera su temporada, pero apuntó que el club estaba dispuesto a escuchar ofertas de canje.

Los Ravens claramente hicieron una oferta que no podían rechazar.

Los Raiders poseen la primera selección del draft y se espera ampliamente que elijan al quarterback de Indiana Fernando Mendoza. Este acuerdo les permite también atender varios otros huecos en su plantilla.

___

Los redactores deportivos de AP Mark Anderson y Noah Trister contribuyeron a este informe.

___

Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/maxx-crosby-es-traspasado-a-ravens-por-2-selecciones-de-primera-ronda-dicen-fuentes-de-ap/ 

Leo’s Nate Stephens said his grandmother, Shirley Davis, had never seen him play basketball.

The plan was for her to attend a Feb. 11 game at Wheaton St. Francis.

“My grandmother was rushed to the hospital with a brain aneurysm on the way to my game and later died,” said Stephens, who also lost a friend in the summer and an aunt two weeks ago. “Right now, I just have to push through for my team.

“I’m dedicating the season to all three. I know they are watching over me.”

Stephens came through with an inspiring performance Friday night.

The 6-foot-2 junior forward produced 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to go with five points to lift the Lions to a 72-64 win over the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills.

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) guards Hillcrest’s Jamari Thomas (11) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Brian Kizer scored 19 points to lead Leo (27-6), which advances to play at 6 p.m. Monday in the UIC Supersectional at Credit Union 1 Arena against Hyde Park (25-9), a 43-40 winner over De La Salle (18-17). Leo is 17-2 since losing 50-35 on Jan. 14 to Hyde Park.

Karon Shavers added 18 points and Asa Harris scored eight of his 17 points in the final 5:13 for the Lions, who won the ninth sectional title in program history and their first since 2022.

Anthony Bradley totaled 15 points on five 3-pointers in the second half for Hillcrest (22-9), which rallied after trailing by 19 points in the third quarter. He went on a tear with four 3-pointers to melt the deficit down to four with 3:53 remaining, but the Hawks could get no closer.

Kizer, meanwhile, confirmed he’s good friends with Stephens and has felt his pain.

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) stops a shot by Hillcrest’s Terrence Richardson (12) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

“He seems like he’s doing OK,” Kizer said. “He’s tough. He brings a lot of toughness to the team.”

Stephens was scheduled to go to his grandmother’s funeral on Saturday.

He also grieved over his friend, Davell Holden, who was fatally shot in August in South Holland in a case that was reportedly mistaken identity. Shortly after Davis’ death, Stephens’ aunt died.

“She was in the hospital for two or three years,” Stephens said of his aunt, who was taken off life support. “The doctors said there was nothing they could do.”

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) and Brian Kizer hug each other beating the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

It has been a mixture of joy and sorrow for Stephens lately, but he hopes there’s more joy in the future for Leo and his teammates.

Last season, Stephens went through pain of a different kind. He tore his right Achilles during the AAU season and needed surgery. He came back toward the end of the season.

“I went up for a dunk, and somebody went underneath me and I came down on it wrong,” Stephens said. “The hardest part of coming back was when I started walking it started hurting.

“But I kept walking on it and pushed through for my team.”

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) blocks a shot by Hillcrest’s Rakee Shelton (23) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Leo coach Jimalle Ridley admires what he has seen from Stephens the past two years.

“He’s gone through a lot,” Ridley said of Stephens. “With his injury, he hasn’t missed a practice and he has missed just one game.”

Ridley is also glad that Stephens can handle a less-than-glamorous role on the team. Stephens had 16 rebounds Tuesday for the Lions in a 68-38 sectional semifinal win over Morgan Park.

“He does his job,” Ridley said of Stephens. “He knows he not taking a lot of shots in a game. He knows he’s not going to be a guy who handles the ball in transition because he’s a team guy.

“All these guys respect him in the locker room. He’s a captain for a reason. He does the job that we need.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/nate-stephens-leo-hillcrest-sectional-basketball/