By Bobby Narang
After setting a program record with 29 victories last season, the York High School boys basketball team was not expected to be among the top teams in the State this season.
After all, the Dukes lost four key starters who had carved a memorable identity as a team-first group of talented players.
There’s no denying that the 2018-2019 team will go down as one of the best in York program history, but the 2019-2020 Dukes have defied preseason projections with another historic season.
Led by a fourth-quarter comeback based on the all-around play from junior guard Jeff Grace, the Dukes pulled out a 53-42 victory at Oak Park-River Forest Saturday.
With the victory, the Dukes improved to a gaudy 25-3 overall record and 9-1 in the West Suburban Silver. They managed to knock out the Huskies from the running for the Conference championship, and avenged two losses to their Conference rivals last season.
The Dukes won two games in two days without the services of star point-guard Nate Shockey, who was sidelined due to a sickness. York head coach Vince Doran gave credit to his players for rising to the challenge all season, including winning two games without their leading scorer and main ballhandler.
“This team, we told them before, that they were talked about as a bunch of misfits with the exception of Nate,” Doran said. “Everybody knew about Nate, but we’ve got some really good players and they proved it this weekend. We won at home against Downers Grove North, (37-32 Friday) and we won here (at OPRF) for the first time since 2015. We’ve had some darn good teams come over here and not win.”
Grace made a big statement by bouncing back from a nagging ankle injury to carry the Dukes to back-to-back victories. He scored 20 points and helped turn a five-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter into a runaway victory with his inspired play. Grace played all 32 minutes against the Huskies.
“It was fun being out there with my teammates, and every day we go out there, we are getting better, especially winning this game without Nate,” Grace said. “We showed we work as a team. I believe in my teammates. I’m just happy to be healthy and help our team win.”
The Dukes will enter the final week of the regular season with a two-game lead over Hinsdale Central, 13-13, 7-3, in the West Suburban Silver standings. The Red Devils defeated the Dukes earlier in the season with Grace sidelined by an ankle injury.
In the West Suburban Gold, Hinsdale South, 26-3, 10-1, is attempting to hold off Morton, 19-6, 8-2, in the race for the championship.