The energy inside Beardsley Gym was electric on Friday night as boys basketball tipped off their home opener against the Glenbrook North Spartans (5-2, 0-1 CSL). Fresh off a decisive win the previous Saturday, the Kits were determined to maintain their momentum, and they did just that, securing a 38-29 victory in a game marked by defensive dominance.

For Evanston, it was all senior guard Kaiden Chatman in the first quarter. The transfer scored all 11 Evanston points in the frame and was carrying the offensive load when others were struggling. He only scored four points the rest of the night but led Evanston in scoring with 15 points on 40% shooting, and also tallied an impressive six rebounds for a guard. Chatham was the only player in the game who scored in double figures.

“Kaiden started off making some good decisions and good reads, putting the ball in the basket,” praised Head Coach Mike Ellis. 

Right out of halftime, Chatham found himself all alone and transition and had to throw one down in his Beardsley debut.

“It felt great,” Chatman grinned after the game. “Seeing George [Richardson] get a dunk really pumped me up, and then Ian [Peters] threw me that perfect pass… I just knew it was going to be a good one,” remarked Chatham.

Evanston’s defense was the story of the whole game, but particularly the first quarter– the Kits held Glenbrook North scoreless in the first frame. Glenbrook North found their footing a little bit in the second quarter, managing to put 12 points on the board, while Evanston responded with eight. The Kits went into the half with a 19-12 lead.

The Kits regained control after the break, with Chatman, senior George Richardson, and senior Ryan Ivory making key plays on both ends of the court. The game was a physical battle, with both teams fighting for every possession. Evanston notched an incredible 23 offensive rebounds throughout the contests that led to second chance points.

“While our defense was strong early, we need to maintain that intensity throughout the whole game,” said Ellis.

The electric atmosphere in Beardsley Gym clearly fueled Chatham and the Kits. 

“It felt amazing playing in front of our home crowd,” said Chatman. “The energy was incredible from the start. It really gave me a boost.”

With the win, the Kits advanced to 6-0 and are now still undefeated at 7-0 (after the Bulls Prep win). The Kits will look to win their second conference game on the road at Deerfield this Thursday.