Parker leads Simeon over Bogan

By Michael O'Brien
YourSeason.com

Simeon has its point guard back, and that isnt a good thing for the rest of the state.Jaleni Neelys steady floor game was back in full force in Simeons 68-57 win over Red-South rival Bogan on Wednesday.Neely suffered an ACL tear and had surgery on July 15. Simeon coach Robert Smith has been slowly ramping Neelys minutes up throughout the season while making due with Reggie Norris and Jaylon Tate in the point guard slot. The Wolverines were winning, but not clicking as well as they had with Neely last year.Neely is the leader of our team and he understand what we want to do, Smith said. He can calm the game down. I told the other point guards they did a great job of holding it down until he got back.Bogan (19-2, 7-1) was supposed to provide a major test for the Wolverines, but the first half was a rout. Simeon took control with an 18-0 first quarter run and led 34-12 at the half. Bogan shot 4-for-29 from the field and 3-for-13 from the line in the first half.Jabari Parker led Simeon (19-1, 8-0) with 20 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Junior Kendrick Nunn added 20 points and eight rebounds. Neely finished with 11 points.Bogan got back in the game in the third, closing the quarter with an 11-0 run and only trailed by 11 to start the fourth.In the third quarter we got bored and let them make a comeback, Smith said. I dont think we have played a complete game yet. It would be scary if we did.Bogan was able to match Simeon in the fourth but it was too little too late, and the Bengals were still bad from the line, missing 5 of 10 free throws.We just missed a lot of free throws, Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin said. We can play with them but you cant miss that many free throws and beat them.Devonte Smith led the Bengals with 13 points and nine rebounds. Ronnell Buckner and Donte Jackson each scored 11 and Juwan Henry added 10.