Stagg pushed a strong Oak Lawn team to the final minutes before coming up short in a 57-51 nonconference loss on Saturday morning.
The game was played Jan. 24 at Stagg High School with an 11:30 a.m. tipoff, as the Chargers hosted the Spartans in a matchup between two teams with winning records and postseason aspirations.
Stagg stayed within striking distance throughout all four quarters, matching Oak Lawn’s pace and physicality while limiting second-chance opportunities and forcing contested shots. The Chargers continued to answer every run, keeping the game within one or two possessions deep into the fourth quarter before Oak Lawn sealed the outcome at the free-throw line. Oak Lawn entered the contest with a 16-6 record, while Stagg moved to 11-10 overall following the setback.
The Chargers were led by a senior core that includes Jesse Torres, Omar Barakat, Jemai Cummings, Ryan Rozak, Daniel Mora and Yazan Alzalam, a group that has provided steady leadership on both ends of the floor throughout the season. Their experience has helped Stagg remain competitive against one of the area’s more challenging schedules.
Up next, Stagg will travel to Andrew for a conference matchup on Feb. 10 with a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.
The last time the Chargers faced Andrew, they dropped a 48-39 decision in their previous meeting.
